By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has warned that poverty and hunger have escalated into major national security threats, fueling instability and violence across Nigeria.
Speaking at the 14th National Security Seminar in Abuja on Monday, Musa, represented by Rear Admiral Ibrahim Shetimma, stressed that modern insecurity extends beyond armed conflict to include economic hardship, food shortages, and social dislocation.
The event, themed “Combating Hunger and Poverty for Sustainable Peace and Development in Nigeria,” was organized by the Alumni Association of the National Defence College (AANDEC) in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
National Security Adviser (NSA) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu stated that the Tinubu administration is tackling the poverty-insecurity cycle through agricultural reforms, social investment programs, and security interventions.
He noted that economic deprivation drives crime and unrest, requiring a coordinated response.
Defence Minister Muhammad Badaru called for a people-centred security approach, addressing root causes like unemployment and social exclusion.
He urged collective action, noting that Nigeria’s challenges demand cross-border cooperation.
AANDEC President Air Commodore Darlington Abdullahi (retd.) highlighted education and economic empowerment as critical to stability, warning that neglecting these areas fuels extremism.
The CDS urged investment in agriculture to revive rural livelihoods and curb urban migration, while Ribadu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to long-term solutions for lasting peace.