With terrorism, banditry and transnational crime threatening Nigeria, the need for enduring international partnerships and regional cooperation to confront such evolving security threats has never been more pressing. At a side meeting during the just-concluded 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the imperative for ECOWAS, the African Union (AU), neighbouring countries and global partners to work together was highlighted, while security experts advocated intelligence sharing, community participation and economic recovery. Chiemelie Ezeobi, who participated, reports
In the Sahel, where insecurity crosses national boundaries, political divisions among countries facing common threats present an additional challenge to efforts to restore stability.
For Nigeria, whose security concerns are connected to developments across West Africa, tackling terrorism and banditry requires not only stronger domestic security institutions but also renewed cooperation among neighbouring countries, regional organisations and international partners.
Sahel Disunity and the Need for Cooperation
Undoubtedly, the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), effective January 29, 2025, following military coups in the three countries, has complicated regional relations.
The political divisions following the coups in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger reinforce the importance of keeping security cooperation open across West Africa.
Although the three countries have left ECOWAS, their fight against armed groups remains connected to the security of their neighbours.
For Nigeria, the priority is to ensure that diplomatic differences do not prevent intelligence sharing, border coordination and practical cooperation against terrorism.
Confronting Nigeria’s Multi-dimensional Security Challenges
It was against this backdrop that Nigeria’s Ministry of Defence convened a high-level side event during the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81) High-Level Week in New York.
The central message of the meeting, themed “Confronting Nigeria’s Multidimensional Security Challenges: A Whole-of-Society and Partnership-Based Approach,” was that no country or institution can independently resolve the region’s security challenges.
Nigeria’s response, therefore, must combine military operations with intelligence cooperation, effective governance, community participation, economic development and enduring regional and international partnerships.
These and many other issues were deliberated on by the panel, moderated by Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, former Chief of Staff to former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Gambari, recalling Nigeria’s concentric-circles foreign policy, stressed the need for Africa to contribute actively to global frameworks, particularly in artificial intelligence.
Sustainable Security Requires Collective Action
As the convener, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), OFR, said Nigeria’s security challenges had national, regional and international implications, making cooperation essential.
“Our recognition that we cannot address these challenges alone is not a statement of dependence; rather, it is an acknowledgement of the multidimensional character of modern security threats and the importance of collective action,” he said.
Musa identified terrorism, banditry, cyber threats, oil theft and organised criminal activities among the country’s security concerns, while highlighting porous borders, governance challenges, socioeconomic vulnerabilities, ethnic and religious tensions, and political and social divisions as factors that compound insecurity.
“These challenges do not exist in isolation. They interact with, reinforce, and at times amplify one another, exploiting many of the same vulnerabilities. Our response must therefore be equally interconnected and comprehensive,” he said.
While acknowledging the importance of military operations, the minister stressed that lasting peace required more than force, adding that “while military and other security operations remain essential to protecting our citizens and territorial integrity, we recognise that lasting peace and stability cannot be achieved through military action alone. Sustainable security requires resilient communities, effective institutions, inclusive development, and good governance”.
He called for stronger coordination among federal, state and local institutions, alongside engagement with traditional and religious leaders, civil society, community organisations and the private sector.
“Our objective must be to evolve from a system that primarily reacts to insecurity towards one that is increasingly capable of anticipating threats, preventing violence, addressing underlying vulnerabilities, and building lasting societal resilience,” he said.
Musa outlined measures under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, including recruiting an additional 22,000 Armed Forces personnel, reorganising the Nigerian Army’s divisional structure and pursuing state police and forest guard arrangements.
Other initiatives include unified intelligence and reconnaissance, the deployment of drones for surveillance and improvised explosive device detection, a national criminal database and support for the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) to strengthen domestic defence production.
However, he insisted that international partnerships must address specific needs and produce measurable outcomes.
“How can we build partnerships that are sustainable, enduring and responsive to evolving threats?” he asked, adding that partners should identify how they could support Nigeria’s most pressing capability and institutional requirements.
“Our objective today should be straightforward. We should not merely reaffirm our understanding of the challenges; we should seek to identify concrete areas of cooperation, clear responsibilities and practical next steps.”
Reinforced Need for Shared Responsibility
In an interview with THISDAY, Major General Abdul Khalifa Ibrahim (Rtd), OFR, Special Adviser to the Minister of Defence on Regional Integration and Multinational Security Cooperation and former Force Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), reinforced the need for shared responsibility.
He said many people wrongly regarded the military as solely responsible for addressing insecurity, despite the contributions required from other institutions and society.
According to him, the kinetic component of security operations could account for only 25 to 30 per cent of the overall effort, while the remaining 70 per cent must come from other partners, including civil society, ordinary citizens and international partners.
He advocated community-based border solutions, implementation of the Office of the National Security Adviser’s Border Management Strategy, revitalisation of the MNJTF and stronger efforts to disrupt terrorist taxation and financial networks.
His position underscored the importance of regional cooperation, particularly where armed groups and criminal networks operate across borders.
Thus, renewed coordination among Nigeria, neighbouring countries, ECOWAS, the AU and international partners would be important in sustaining security operations and addressing threats throughout the Sahel.
When Intelligence Must Guide Security Priorities
For his part, Major General Adeyinka T. Famadewa (Rtd), Special Adviser on Homeland Security, advocated intelligence fusion, integrated response capabilities and systems that protect citizens who report security threats.
Famadewa acknowledged the difficulties of achieving security objectives but said Nigeria was moving in the right direction by reviewing past approaches and exploring new methods.
In an interview with THISDAY afterwards, he discussed the National Threat Assessment commissioned by the President, saying it was not another National Security Strategy document but rather an exercise that would move Nigeria from a capability-driven approach to one based on identified threats.
The assessment would determine the threats confronting the country, the measures required to mitigate them and the priorities for deploying limited resources.
Famadewa said the exercise would identify capability gaps and establish how to address them over five years, while developing domestic defence production.
He also urged citizens to participate in securing the country. “See something, say something,” he said, adding that every Nigerian was a sensor and that they should expect “A better Nigeria.”
Economic Recovery and African Solutions
Still during the panel session, Dr. Kingsley Obiora, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, identified economic stability as a core pillar of national security. He proposed designated economic zones inspired by Colombia to stimulate business recovery in conflict-affected areas.
Prof. Mvemba Phezo Dizolele of Johns Hopkins University cautioned against adopting external security templates, urging African countries to develop solutions suited to their own circumstances and designed for local populations.
Meanwhile, cybersecurity expert Omosigho Ozo-Eson warned against over-reliance on foreign artificial intelligence systems and called for stronger protection of critical national infrastructure and indigenous cyber defence capabilities.
How Partnerships Can Deliver Lasting Security
In his closing remarks, General Musa reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to confronting terrorism and banditry, commending defence cooperation with partners, including the United States.
He acknowledged international support for regional mechanisms such as the MNJTF, including assistance from the European Union, but stressed that African member states must increasingly finance and sustain their own security frameworks.
He also highlighted efforts to improve legal frameworks, protect vulnerable health workers in high-risk areas and create a stable business environment that attracts investment.
Ultimately, the challenge for Nigeria and the wider Sahel is to turn security commitments into practical cooperation. Stronger intelligence exchange, coordinated border management, disruption of terrorist financing, community participation and economic recovery must complement military operations.
As Musa emphasised, Nigeria is prepared to do its part. But enduring security will depend on whether national institutions, ECOWAS, the AU, Sahelian countries and global partners can work together despite political differences, recognising that insecurity in one part of the region can have consequences for others.
This is because ECOWAS and the AU, working with international partners and Sahelian governments, have important roles to play in encouraging dialogue and supporting collective responses to common threats.