The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has raised alarm over the rising threat hunger and poverty pose to Nigeria’s national security, warning that the challenges have evolved beyond mere socio-economic issues.
Speaking at the opening of the 14th National Security Seminar in Abuja on Monday, Gen. Musa stressed the urgent need for a coordinated national response to address the deepening crises.
The event was organised by the Alumni Association of the National Defence College in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser and the National Defence College, under the theme: “Combating Hunger and Poverty for Sustainable Peace and Development in Nigeria.”
Represented by Rear Admiral Ibrahim Shettima, Chief of Defence Training, Gen. Musa said hunger and poverty were now directly linked to rising insecurity in the country.
“Insecurity today is not only defined by weapons but also by economic deprivation, food insecurity, and social dislocation.
Hunger and poverty are no longer mere social challenges – they have become national security threats.
The North Central region, particularly Benue, once considered Nigeria’s food basket, is a clear example of how banditry, displacement, and farmer-herder conflicts have devastated agricultural productivity,’’ he said.
The CDS identified disruptions in farming communities and illegal occupation of farmlands as drivers of food inflation, population displacement, and forced migration, which in turn weaken the economy and social cohesion.
He urged citizens to take an active role in community security by supporting intelligence gathering and maintaining vigilance. He also called for substantial investments in grassroots agriculture, suggesting that farming should be repositioned as a respected and rewarding profession.
“With the migration of rural youth to urban centres, agricultural productivity is declining.
We must make farming attractive again—not as a last resort, but as a national duty and a prestigious calling,’’ he added.
Gen. Musa commended President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, especially its focus on granting financial autonomy to local governments, which he described as a key enabler for responsive, community-led development.
“I assure you, the Armed Forces of Nigeria, in collaboration with other security agencies and with the support of the people, remain resolute in overcoming all security threats.
We must build a Nigeria where every citizen can live in peace, engage in productive livelihood, and enjoy the dividends of democracy,” he said.
In his address, the President of AANDEC, retired Air Commodore Darlington Abdullahi, stressed the importance of non-kinetic strategies, including education, economic empowerment, and social inclusion, in tackling the root causes of insecurity.
Abdullahi said hunger and poverty must be recognised not only as humanitarian issues but as existential threats to national stability.
He quoted the saying: “the children of the poor you fail to train will never let your children have peace,” emphasizing that social neglect fosters extremism and unrest.
“When millions suffer from hunger and poverty, they become vulnerable to exploitation by those with ill intentions.
We must therefore invest in our people—especially in education, livelihoods, and skills development.
Economic initiatives that foster inclusion and bring communities together can be effective tools for peacebuilding. They create an atmosphere of stability and discourage violence,” he said.
Abdullahi praised members of AANDEC—retired military officers and senior public servants—for their dedication to Nigeria’s unity and security. He advocated for the establishment of a vocational and leadership development centre for widows and children of fallen heroes, calling it a crucial step toward empowering vulnerable groups and promoting national healing.
