FG pushes for greater collaboration to tackle insecurity – Defense Minister

The Federal Government has renewed its call for closer cooperation between security and intelligence agencies, saying it is vital to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.

The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd), made the appeal on Friday during a high-level meeting with security and intelligence stakeholders at the Ministry of Defense in Abuja.

He stressed the need for a unified intelligence and operational picture to improve responses to asymmetric threats, which he said require joint effort, precision and faster information sharing.

Musa praised the dedication of security personnel across the country, stressing that they continue to operate under “difficult conditions” while making significant sacrifices to protect lives and property.

He said the security situation was a collective national responsibility, adding that fragmented operations between agencies often limited the impact of ongoing efforts.

“We have operated in silos for too long. Now is the time to come together, share intelligence effectively and function as a coordinated team in support of our troops and the nation,” he said.

The minister reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive on strengthening inter-agency collaboration, adding that all security institutions must work in synergy to achieve lasting results.

He also highlighted the importance of combining human intelligence with modern technological tools to improve operational efficiency and enable rapid response to security threats.

According to him, effective counterinsurgency requires intelligence-driven operations, especially because adversaries often operate covertly and are difficult to detect.

He also called on Nigerians to actively support security agencies by providing credible and timely intelligence that could aid operations across the country.