Former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, on Thursday, said that the ongoing insecurity in the northern part of the country is caused by poverty, unemployment, institutional failures, and other factors.
He stated that these issues have created a fertile ground for insecurity to thrive, with devastating impacts on the country.
Abubakar spoke at the inaugural international lecture organised by the News Agency of Nigeria.
He urged Nigerians not to lose faith in the fight against insecurity, emphasising that combating insecurity is the responsibility of every individual.
He also called on citizens to collaborate with the government and security agencies to address the insecurity.
He said, “Permit me to note, however, that at the heart of the insecurity in this region, among other factors, are the undercurrents of poverty and unemployment, the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, weak governance and institutional failures, as well as climate change and environmental degradation.
“These factors have certainly created a fertile ground for insecurity to thrive, with devastating impacts on our dear nation. We must not, however, lose faith in our capacity to rise above the storms of insecurity, as this challenge is the responsibility of each and every Nigerian, and indeed, all Africans.
“Not only must we work together to find solutions to our country’s security challenges, but we also owe it to ourselves, our children, and future generations to create a safer and more prosperous nation. May peace reign in our region and the world at large. I thank you for your kind attention.”
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the country has been vulnerable to conflict due to its shared borders with several Sahelian countries.
He said, “Nigeria shares a long and porous border with several Sahelian countries caught up in conflict, making us vulnerable to the spillover effects of their conflicts. This not only threatens our security but also challenges our capacity to maintain effective control over our borders.”
Notwithstanding, the minister noted that the country was winning the war against insecurity.
He said, “We are winning the war against insecurity. Since the assumption of office 16 months ago, 12 aircraft have been acquired to boost the fighting capacity of our Armed Forces.”
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, stated that the Sahel region has, over the last decade and a half, become synonymous with instability, violence, and insecurity.
He added that this ranges from the rise of insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP to the spread of violent extremism, human trafficking, and illegal arms proliferation.
He noted that insecurity did not emerge in a vacuum and traced its roots to a combination of local and global factors, including poor governance, economic marginalization, climate change, ethnic tensions, and the spillover effects of conflicts in North Africa and the broader Middle East.
He emphasised that the collapse of the Libyan state in 2011 further unleashed an influx of weapons and fighters, which catalyzed the rise of militant groups across the Sahel.
“Nigeria, as a critical player in the region, has borne a significant share of the fallout from this instability,” he said.
The CDS admitted that insurgency in the North East, led by Boko Haram since 2009, has not only devastated communities but also stretched military resources, forced the displacement of millions, and undermined economic development.
He also highlighted that the porous nature of Nigeria’s borders with Sahelian countries has made it easier for transnational criminals, including smugglers, human traffickers, and arms dealers, to operate with impunity.