Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, has said that the operational capacity of terrorists, bandits, and other criminal elements has been significantly degraded across multiple theatres of operation in Nigeria.
Speaking at the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Annual Conference 2025 held in Lagos, Musa attributed the progress recorded to the courage and resilience of troops, improved operational planning, and effective coordination among security agencies.
He emphasized that Nigeria’s security challenges cannot be addressed by any single agency acting alone, stressing the importance of intelligence sharing, joint planning, and sustained inter-agency collaboration.
“No single service can defeat these threats independently,” Musa said, noting that collective efforts remain critical in combating terrorism, insurgency, banditry, and transnational crime.
Describing the COAS Annual Conference as a strategic platform, the Defence Minister said it provides an opportunity to review operational readiness, reinforce professionalism, and align the Nigerian Army’s strategies with national security objectives.
Musa reaffirmed that security remains a core pillar of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, pledging continued strategic leadership, capacity development, and strengthened accountability frameworks within the Armed Forces.
He paid tribute to fallen and wounded personnel, assuring that their sacrifices would not be forgotten and that government remains committed to the welfare of serving and retired troops.
The Defence Minister also commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, for his leadership and urged the military to continue developing innovative and adaptive strategies to neutralize emerging threats.
In his remarks, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu praised the Nigerian Army’s intelligence-driven and professional approach to security operations. He highlighted ongoing modernization efforts, restructuring, and enhanced training programmes aimed at addressing evolving security challenges.
