CDS Musa calls for integrated approach to tackle insecurity, blending military, diplomacy, and community efforts

On Monday, November 18, 2024, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, called for a more integrated approach to addressing Nigeria’s security challenges. Speaking at the opening of the International Security Management Course (ISMC-5) in Abuja, Musa emphasized the need to combine military strategies with diplomatic efforts, community engagement, and good governance to effectively tackle insecurity.

The course, themed “Emerging Security and Economic Issues in the ECOWAS Sub-region,” was organized by the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in collaboration with Peace Building Development Consult (PBDC) and the ECOWAS Commission. Musa, who was represented by Brigadier-General Raymond Utsaha, Deputy Director of Peacekeeping Operations at the Defense Headquarters, highlighted the importance of collective responsibility in addressing security issues both within Nigeria and across the West African sub-region.

Musa explained that today’s rapidly changing global landscape, coupled with increasingly complex security threats, requires a holistic approach. “These security challenges range from terrorism, cyber threats, transnational organized crime, geopolitical tensions, and environmental disasters,” he said. “Therefore, our approach must be comprehensive, integrating military strategies with diplomatic efforts, community engagement, and good governance.”

He also stressed the importance of a nuanced understanding of both national and international security dynamics, noting that tackling insecurity in the modern era requires not only military power but also collaboration among governments, institutions, and local communities.

The CDS’s comments reflect a growing recognition that addressing insecurity requires more than just a military response—it demands a coordinated, whole-society effort that involves all sectors of society working together. The course marks a step toward fostering a deeper understanding of these interconnected challenges, as well as the need for regional cooperation and solidarity in securing the future of the ECOWAS region.