Defence, Interior Ministers Pledge Stronger Collaboration to Tackle Nigeria’s Security Challenges
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, has called for deeper collaboration between the Ministries of Defence and Interior, stressing that Nigeria’s evolving security challenges can only be effectively addressed through seamless inter-agency cooperation and shared responsibility.
Musa made the call on Friday in Abuja during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, where both leaders pledged to strengthen coordination to counter emerging and asymmetric threats across the country.
Describing the two ministries as “two sides of the same national security coin,” the defence minister said the traditional distinction between internal and external security had been blurred by the rise of terrorism, insurgency, banditry, and cross-border crimes.
“The line between internal and external security is no longer clear. These threats demand synergy, intelligence sharing, and coordinated operations if we are to succeed,” Musa said.
He emphasised the need for stronger intelligence collaboration, proposing an enhanced joint intelligence fusion framework involving the Defence Intelligence Agency and interior agencies such as the Nigerian Immigration Service, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Nigerian Correctional Service.
Musa also advocated the deployment of secure digital platforms for real-time information sharing, regular joint simulations and tabletop exercises, and clearly defined protocols for joint operations to minimise institutional friction and optimise the use of resources.
He assured that the Ministry of Defence would continue to support internal security agencies through specialised training in counterterrorism, intelligence gathering, and crisis response, as well as logistical and technical assistance where necessary.
Read Also:
In his response, Tunji-Ojo agreed that weaknesses in the internal security framework often place excessive pressure on the military, noting that a strong and effective internal security system would allow the armed forces to focus on their core defence mandate.
“Our national security architecture stands on a tripod of intelligence, internal security, and defence. If one leg is weak, the entire structure is threatened,” he said.
The interior minister cautioned against rivalry and territorialism among security agencies, stressing that citizens were more concerned about safety and results than institutional boundaries.
He identified border security as a key area for enhanced collaboration, particularly through the Nigerian Immigration Service, adding that no nation could guarantee the safety of its people without effectively securing its borders.
Tunji-Ojo also clarified the role of the NSCDC, noting that the corps was not designed to function as a parallel police force, but as a specialised agency tasked with protecting critical national assets, including schools, oil and gas facilities, solid minerals, telecommunications infrastructure, and power installations.
He described attacks on such facilities as “economic terrorism,” saying their protection required military-grade training and close coordination with the armed forces.
Both ministers underscored the importance of integrated data management, agreeing that databases maintained by the Ministry of Interior should serve as critical inputs for defence planning and national security decision-making.
They further agreed to activate an inter-ministerial technical committee that will meet regularly to assess progress, resolve operational challenges, and institutionalise cooperation at both strategic and operational levels.
Musa and Tunji-Ojo expressed confidence that sustained collaboration between their ministries would enhance national security, strengthen public trust, and contribute to a safer Nigeria.
“Working together is the only way Nigeria can win,” Musa said.
By PRNigeria
