Inter-Agency Collaboration Key to Winning Security War, Says CG Musa
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, has urged Nigeria’s security leadership to move decisively from deliberations to concrete action in confronting the nation’s evolving security challenges, stressing that recent gains against terrorism, banditry and other criminal threats can only be sustained through unity, joint operations and strong inter-agency collaboration.
General Musa made the call on Monday in Lagos while declaring open the 10th Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Annual Conference 2025, describing the gathering as a strategic platform for reviewing the Nigerian Army’s operational posture, readiness and professionalism in line with national security priorities.
He noted that Nigeria continues to grapple with a mix of terrorism, insurgency, banditry and other asymmetric threats, which, according to him, demand sustained focus, adaptive leadership and clear strategic direction.
“The importance of this conference cannot be overstated,” the Defence Minister said. “Nigeria’s security environment remains complex, and addressing these challenges requires the Army, other security agencies and the wider society to operate in unison. Only through collective effort can we effectively confront these threats.”
General Musa acknowledged that the operational capabilities of terrorist groups, insurgents and criminal networks have been significantly degraded across several theatres of operation. He attributed these achievements to the courage and professionalism of Nigerian troops, improved planning and training, as well as enhanced joint and multi-agency operations.
He, however, emphasized that no single service or individual can secure the country alone, stressing that intelligence sharing and inter-service cooperation are no longer optional but fundamental to effective national defence.
“Success in today’s security environment requires a whole-of-society approach,” he said. “Strategic discussions must translate into concrete operational actions and measurable outcomes.”
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While commending the Army’s achievements, the Defence Minister underscored the human cost of military service, paying tribute to fallen soldiers, wounded personnel and their families who bear the enduring burden of national defence. He specifically commended the families of the late Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja and Brigadier General Oba for their sacrifices, reiterating the Federal Government’s commitment to the welfare, medical care and long-term support of serving and retired personnel and their families.
General Musa also praised the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, for his distinguished career path, spanning battalion and brigade commands in the North East, theatre command and his eventual appointment as Army Chief. He charged senior commanders to continually evolve innovative strategies to defeat threats to national security.
He further reaffirmed that security remains a central pillar of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, assuring that the Federal Government will continue to provide strategic direction, policy backing and capability development to ensure the Armed Forces remain professional, responsive and future-ready.
“The Nigerian Army and the Armed Forces have played a stabilising role in this country and will continue to do so,” General Musa stated. “These security challenges belong to all of us, and we must contribute individually and collectively to overcoming them.”
The 10th COAS Annual Conference, themed *“Examining the Correct Landscape of Terrorism Through the Lens of Diplomatic and Military Action: Strategies for Long-Term Prevention and Stabilisation,”* brings together senior military commanders, security stakeholders and experts to review lessons learned, assess emerging threats and propose practical measures to strengthen operational effectiveness in the coming year.
The Defence Minister concluded by thanking Nigerians for their continued support and commending the Lagos State Government for hosting the conference, noting that sustained collaboration between government, security agencies and citizens remains vital to national peace, security and stability.
By PRNigeria
