Insecurity: one against one with Cds Musa (2)

At the entrance of the Defense headquarters, I noticed a difference between my conceptual image of the defense headquarters and the real one. I expected to meet severe -looking soldiers with rough faces, setting the civilians while the safety controls passed on the premises.

Instead, I met them politely, looking at the staff and politely identifying visitors as I asked who had come to see. Except for military uniform and the ordered way in which things are conducted, one cannot imagine being in a more reitioned environment, but a diplomatic outfit with a lovable reception.

All the time, the atmosphere was friendly and accommodation. There is a difference between today’s military personnel and those of a few years ago, when it was a family scene to see the military personnel who meet the corporal punishment with “bloody” civilians at checkpoint for the slightest excuse.

How can you harass civilians and expect them to collaborate and support you in your fight against criminals, insurgents and bandits? Perhaps it was part of the change that the General Chief of Defense (CDS) explained Christopher Musa during the interview.

While I entered the Palace of the CDs, there were several variables in my mind to reach the balance: how would the interview be like? I had to be dictated what to write and what not to write in the name of national security?

Soon the atmosphere relaxed with the Franco and friendly welcome of the CDS, which prompted me to introduce me. When he heard me mention that I am a professor of extension in agricultural engineering, he observed unintentionally: “Agriculture is an area of ​​immense interest for me, but where are the extension operators?” It was a question that had to be addressed before the interview. I explained that many have withdrawn, some died and others left the service without replacement. The few who remain are scattered and unnoticed throughout the nation.

As mentioned in the first part of this piece, the CDs had no media assistants to support his answers to my questions. However, it allowed me to ask questions without areas or boundaries without Go when he declared very affablely: “Prof., I don’t want to know the questions before meeting us, since we have nothing to hide”.

My first question was his evaluation of the current security situation of the country compared to before it was appointed. The follow-up demand was its strategies to face the insurrection, the bandits and the kidnapping for the redemption and if the strategies are achieving the desired results.

General Musa replied quickly, stating: “We must protect the country. Since we took the office next month, it will take two years, that is, by June 2025. And for me the most significant result is the awareness that we have been able to make the Nigerians understand for us.

He added: “And then, inside the services, we had problems of internal fighting and not working together; everything that has gone. Now, we sit, we look at the problems and face them. Gradually, despite the challenges, it becomes clear that last year it was a collection of Bumper. Open the trains and vehicles are moving.

You can see the level of trust and hope for the future. Once again, the response of General Musa revealed a movement of the military-public relationship aimed at winning the trust of the people in the collection and support of the intelligence in the fight against the insurrection and the bandits. Security is a collective duty that every stakeholder must fulfill the sense of responsibility for the society to live in peace and thrive.

The synergy between military units and paramilitary forces is a significant step to win the war against criminal elements.

General Musa said: “Now there is no problem; we walk together: Army, Marina and Air Force. There is no competition; we are all Nigerians. This is our country, and we all work with the police, the DSS, the Nia, the diameter and all agencies such as civil defense, immigration and habits. Together like a team, which has helped us to achieve our goals.

The support of the population and synergy are significant passages in the right direction, but it remains a lot to do. Winning the war against insurrection, Banditi and terrorism require two key strategies: kinetic and not Kinetica.

General Musa said: “We need both kinetic and non -Kinetic. The kinetic is what the military do when they commit themselves in combat. The non -Kinetic aspect of good government involves working with the public and sensitizing. Presidents, religious leaders, traditional sovereigns, market women, car workers, etc. because we believe that if the awareness continues in this way, with all the support.

The non -Kinetic strategy provides for the efforts of all three government weapons to guarantee a good government, including infrastructures, job opportunities, quality education, health services, justice and fairness. Federal, state and local governments must deliver the dividends of democracy through good government, while the judiciary must guarantee that justice prevails in all segments of society. It is essential to identify and effectively deal with the causes of the insurrection root and bandits. Eliminating all the insurgents and bandits without facing the underlying causes of these criminal activities will allow only other bandits and insurgents to re -emerge.

While the military performs the kinetic strategy of the war of the insurrection, what is the main challenge that plays against success? General Musa gave information on the challenge.

He said: “The challenge we are experiencing is that we do not produce what we need: everything we need, we have to go to buy outside the country. With your money, if you go out, it is not there. The Russian-Ukraine war has made it extremely difficult to get military equipment.

In addition, we found diplomatic challenges in the past. Despite our financial resources, sometimes we are denied access to this equipment, which has influenced us. Fortunately, Mr. Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu approved the Dicon bill last year, allowing the Dicon (Defense Industry Corporation of Nigeria) to collaborate with the producers of original equipment to produce in Nigeria.

This is the way to go. By creating what we need, we will guarantee both quality and quantity. This initiative will generate job opportunities for our citizens, which will also help reduce insecurity. Will provide us with foreign currency. We will be able to sell to neighboring countries, making it an advantageous agreement for Nigeria. “

The interview is certainly revealing and information, but this column may not cover everything as well as a separate publication that I intend to create soon. Stay tuned for this in the next few days.