Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (Rtd.), says Nigeria must overhaul its security system to survive.
He delivered the warning at the 7th Annual Public Lecture of the Just Friends Club of Nigeria in Abuja.
Speaking on “Nigeria’s Security Challenges and the Quest for National Cohesion,” Dambazau urged a complete rethink of national security.
He said true security goes beyond the military and must prioritise people’s welfare, rights, and development.
“Security is about lives, property, and human dignity,” he declared. “It is the primary duty of government.”
He lamented that despite huge defence budgets since 1999, Nigeria remains plagued by fear, violence, and poverty.
Dambazau questioned why insecurity persists despite massive investments and constant military deployment.
He asked: “Can we build a people-centered, intelligence-led security system that respects our diversity?”
He explained that global understanding of security now centers on people, not territories or weapons.
Military strength alone, he said, cannot solve poverty, hunger, and illiteracy, which breed instability.
“Human security means freedom from fear, freedom from want, and a future of opportunity,” Dambazau stressed.
He linked rising poverty and unemployment to worsening violence and weak governance.
Nigeria’s poverty rate, he noted, could hit 46 percent by 2024, with over 90 million citizens below the poverty line.
He said lack of education, healthcare, and jobs fuels desperation and crime.
“Neglecting human development is itself a national security threat,” he warned.
The retired general also raised alarm over cybercrime and illegal arms proliferation.
He said weak border control and local gun manufacturing have worsened terrorism and banditry.
“Technology can be our ally or our enemy,” he said, urging the government to invest in cybersecurity.
Dambazau blamed persistent insecurity on poor governance, weak coordination, and political interference.
“Corruption and bad governance cripple our security institutions,” he said. “Our agencies operate in silos, not synergy.”
He called for intelligence-led operations and community-based policing that build public trust.
“Security cannot be centralised in Abuja,” he said. “Communities must own their protection.”
On climate change, he warned that droughts and land loss are fueling farmer-herder conflicts.
“Environmental degradation drives hunger, displacement, and violence,” he said.
He urged policymakers to link environmental management with security reform.
Dambazau also decried the growing ethnic and religious divisions across Nigeria.
He said political elites exploit religion and ethnicity to divide citizens.
“This lack of unity gives terrorists room to thrive,” he warned.
He condemned foreign claims of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, calling them divisive and misleading.
“Terrorists kill Muslims and Christians alike,” he said. “We must unite to confront them.”
Dambazau criticised the U.S. designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern,” calling it political interference.
He noted that most Boko Haram victims in Borno and Yobe are Muslims.
“Our enemies are criminals, not Christians or Muslims,” he insisted.
He said insecurity should not be viewed as a northern or southern problem but a national one.
Dambazau then turned to Nigeria’s outdated security architecture.
He said decades of military rule left the system rigid, centralised, and out of touch.
“The police lack professionalism, equipment, and trust,” he said. “The military is overstretched and misused.”
He accused governments of prioritising regime security over national security.
“Our agencies often protect politicians instead of the people,” he said.
He urged reforms that ensure professionalism, accountability, and respect for human rights.
Dambazau called for smarter investments in intelligence, technology, and youth empowerment.
“Bullets cannot solve social problems,” he said. “Only inclusion, education, and opportunity can.”
He also supported involving non-state actors and civil society in peacebuilding.
“They can be partners, not just threats,” he said.
The retired general said modern security must integrate AI, drones, and digital surveillance responsibly.
“Technology should protect, not oppress,” he warned.
He emphasised that democracy requires the protection of civil liberties and rule of law.
“The state must respect rights even while fighting insecurity,” he said.
He urged the National Assembly and judiciary to strengthen oversight and ensure accountability.
Dambazau proposed a “new paradigm” focused on decentralisation, transparency, and local intelligence.
“Security must start from the grassroots,” he said. “Communities are our first line of defence.”
He called for integrating local customs, traditional justice, and youth engagement into national strategies.
“Every Nigerian has a role in building peace,” he concluded.
He summarised his message in three points: unity, good governance, and people-driven reform.
“Security is everyone’s business,” Dambazau said. “Without national cohesion, Nigeria cannot stand.”
Earlier, the President of the Just Friends Club of Nigeria, Mr Fred Ohwahwa, called for urgent national action on Nigeria’s deepening security crisis.
He thanked Professor Tonnie Iredia, the former NTA Director-General, for stepping in as Chairman on short notice and praised his unwavering support for national dialogue and civic progress.
Ohwahwa said the Just Friends Club, founded in 2013, remains committed to social good, responsible citizenship, and nation-building.
According to him, open dialogue and collective engagement are crucial to solving Nigeria’s toughest problems.
He noted that insecurity—ranging from insurgency to kidnapping and cyber threats—continues to threaten national stability.
“Ohwahwa warned that Nigeria must put its house in order or risk external interference,” he said, referencing recent global remarks about the country’s instability.
“Our failure to address banditry and kidnapping does not speak well of us as a serious nation,” he added.
The president emphasized that the fight for peace and progress must involve both government and citizens.
He urged Nigerians to engage actively and leave the event inspired to become part of the solution.
Ohwahwa also thanked the keynote speaker, Lt. Gen. (Rtd.) Abdulrahman Dambazau, for his service and insight.
