Insecurity Fueled by Hunger, Poverty, Says NSA Ribadu, Defence Chief
Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, have jointly warned that hunger and poverty are no longer just social issues but have escalated into significant threats to national security.
Their remarks came on Monday during the 14th National Security Seminar, themed “Combating Hunger and Poverty for Sustainable Peace and Development in Nigeria”, organized by the Alumni Association of the National Defence College (AANDEC) in Abuja.
Simultaneously, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu flagged off the distribution of 2,000 tractors under the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme to promote food security across the country.
Hunger, Poverty Fueling Insecurity — NSA
Represented by Major General P.P. Mala, Director of Defence Affairs at the Office of the NSA, Ribadu emphasized that poverty and hunger are driving a cycle of insecurity, crime, and social fragmentation.
“Poverty leads to insecurity, and insecurity in turn worsens poverty,” he said. “Under President Tinubu’s leadership, the federal government has prioritized agricultural reforms, social investment programmes, and enhanced security operations to disrupt this cycle.”
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Ribadu highlighted ongoing government efforts to strengthen food systems, improve law enforcement capabilities, and build infrastructure to support agricultural production and distribution.
“At the ONSA, we continue to coordinate kinetic and non-kinetic efforts involving the military, intelligence, security agencies, and other stakeholders. However, unemployment, hunger, and youth disenfranchisement remain persistent challenges requiring long-term, strategic responses,” he added.
CDS: Food Insecurity Now a National Security Concern
General Musa, represented by Rear Admiral Ibrahim Shettima, Chief of Defence Training, stated that insecurity is no longer defined solely by weapons but also by economic hardship and food scarcity.
“Hunger and poverty are now national security threats,” Musa said. “Regions like Benue, once known as Nigeria’s food basket, have seen agricultural decline due to banditry, displacement, and farmer-herder conflicts.”
He warned that the illegal occupation of farmlands and the disruption of farming communities are contributing to rising food prices, mass displacement, and internal instability.
Musa called for urgent investment in grassroots agricultural development and urged stakeholders to make farming a viable, respected profession once again.
“We must reposition agriculture as a noble national duty. Without productive rural communities, our food security and national unity remain at risk,” he said.
He also praised the Tinubu administration for promoting local government financial autonomy and reaffirmed the Armed Forces’ commitment to safeguarding national peace and prosperity.
By PRNigeria
