Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), on Thursday held a high-level meeting with intelligence and Security stakeholders at the Ministry of Defence (MOD), calling for a stronger collaboration and coordination among security and intelligence agencies in order to effectively combat the nation’s evolving security challenges.
General Musa, while emphasizing the urgent need for a unified and integrated approach to intelligence gathering and operations, particularly in the face of asymmetric warfare, commended the dedication and resilience of security personnel.
He noted that despite numerous challenges, they must continue to serve with commitment and courage, often without adequate recognition because of the asymmetric nature of the security challenges.
The Minister described the current security situation as a collective national concern, adding that Nigeria’s response must equally be collective. He noted that while security agencies have made significant progress, efforts have often been fragmented, limiting the overall effectiveness.
According to him: “We have been operating in silo for too long. It is time to come together, harness our collective intelligence, and work as a unified team to support our troops and safeguard the nation.”
He reiterated the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for an enhanced “joint action” across all security institutions, emphasizing that every agency and parastatal has a critical role to play in ensuring national security.
For him, there is need to effectively integrate both human and technical intelligence for actionable outcomes that will enable rapid response by troops in the field.
General Musa also highlighted the importance of public participation, urging Nigerians to actively support security efforts by providing timely and credible information to relevant authorities.
“Asymmetric warfare requires intelligence-driven operations adding that the enemy is often hidden, making it imperative for us to strengthen our intelligence architecture and remain vigilant at all times,”.
The meeting, described as a first-of-its-kind at the Ministry of Defence, is expected to mark the beginning of more coordinated intelligence framework, aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and strengthening national security.
