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Sustainable national security, strong governance, and credible institutions are the indispensable foundations required to drive Nigeria’s transition into a trillion-dollar economy, minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (retd) has said.
A statement Thursday by Special Assistant on Media to the minister Leah Katung-Babatunde , noted that Musa stated this while delivering a keynote address titled “National Security: Pathway to a Trillion-Dollar Economy” at the 56th Annual Accountants’ Conference of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja.
General Musa emphasised that national security must be viewed beyond traditional military operations and law enforcement, adding that instead, it must be recognised as an essential economic catalyst that safeguards human capital, protects critical infrastructure, and fosters the predictability required to attract long-term investment.
General Musa emphasised that “No investor commits capital where lives and assets are not safe, and no economy grows beyond the reach of its security,”
The Minister acknowledged Nigeria’s security challenges, including targeted community attacks, highway kidnappings, and isolated insurgent activities, but reassured the public that concerted operations by the Armed Forces of Nigeria are steadily turning the tide to restore total stability across economic corridors, agricultural belts, and industrial zones.
Aligning with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the minister outlined key strategic priorities to leverage security for macroeconomic expansion to include Protection of Strategic Economic Assets, Promoting Good Governance & Human Capital, Defence Financial Discipline, Cybersecurity & Financial Intelligence and Domestic Defence Industrial Capacity.
In a significant step toward institutional collaboration, the Minister announced the establishment of a Joint Ministry of Defence–ICAN Implementation Committee to develop a collaborative frameworks proposed by the President of ICAN, Hajia Queensley Seghosime.
He said the partnership will focus on Specialized training in Public Financial Management and accounting standards for Armed Forces personnel, Joint training programs in forensic accounting and financial intelligence to combat terrorism financing, Enhanced corporate governance and welfare schemes for veterans.
General Musa commended ICAN for its unwavering commitment to fiscal discipline and transparency, concluding that a secure environment coupled with professional financial management will lay the ultimate foundation for Nigeria’s long-term economic prosperity.
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