The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has expressed grave concern over the proliferation of illegal arms in Nigeria, revealing that the country accounts for approximately 40 percent of the over 500 million illicit small arms and light weapons currently circulating in West Africa.
General Musa made the startling disclosure on Thursday while delivering a keynote lecture titled “Global Fragility and Security Management in Nigeria” at the University of Ibadan’s Trenchard Hall. The event was organized by the TETFund Centre of Excellence in Security Management.
“These weapons, largely smuggled from conflict-ridden zones in the Sahel and North Africa, have found their way into the hands of terrorists, bandits, and ethnic militias within Nigeria,” he stated.
“They have become tools of destruction, intensifying violence particularly in the northern regions.”
Musa stressed that Nigeria’s current security landscape is deeply affected by global fragility trends, noting that the threats are no longer confined to national borders.
“Fragile states are now a global issue. What affects one region inevitably impacts others,” he said.
“Nigeria cannot afford to be reactive. We must urgently recalibrate our security architecture to deal with this evolving threat.”
According to the Defence Chief, several factors contribute to Nigeria’s vulnerability, including porous borders, limited governance in remote areas, transnational terrorism, cyber threats, and socio-economic instability.
“Our security challenges are both internal and external. They are shaped by global crises, digital manipulation, and environmental pressures,” he warned.
Highlighting the growing role of digital platforms in worsening national security, Gen. Musa observed that tools such as Facebook and WhatsApp are increasingly being weaponized to disseminate disinformation, incite ethnic hatred, and radicalize youth.
“We’re not only fighting on the battlefield but also in the digital space. Disinformation campaigns and online extremism are real threats,” he noted.
To address the complex nature of Nigeria’s security challenges, Gen. Musa proposed a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach:
“We need a multi-agency security model in line with our National Defence Policy. This includes tighter border control using surveillance technologies, improved collaboration with neighboring countries, and tackling root causes of insecurity like youth unemployment and poverty.”
He also emphasized the importance of strengthening civil institutions, encouraging national unity, and promoting dialogue to build resilient communities.
“Security today is about more than weapons and soldiers. It’s about inclusive development, community empowerment, and responsive governance,” Musa said.
Speaking on behalf of the event’s chairman, former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd), Lt. Gen. Lamidi Adeosun (rtd) echoed the Defence Chief’s stance, calling for reforms in governance, intelligence gathering, and community-based early warning systems.
“Nigeria needs proactive rather than reactive security management,” Adeosun said. “Intelligence and trust at the grassroots are key to preventing threats from escalating.”
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, lauded the lecture for effectively bridging academia and real-world security practice.
“This is the kind of dialogue that creates evidence-based solutions for Nigeria’s complex security challenges,” he said.
Director of the Centre for Excellence in Security Management, Dr. Benjamin Aluko, described General Musa’s participation as “historic,” noting that his insights would significantly enrich the centre’s research and training programmes.
