200 Million Nigerians Cannot Be Protected By Just Two Million Security Personnel, COAS Declares

200 Million Nigerians Cannot Be Protected By Just Two Million Security Personnel, COAS Declares....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Chief of Army Staff, General Taoreed Lagbaja, has underscored the difficulty of expecting two million security personnel to effectively protect Nigeria’s population of over 200 million. He made this observation during the 2024 Distinguished Personality Lecture in Ilorin, Kwara State…..CONTINUE READING

Represented by the Chief of Army Training, Sanni Mohammed, General Lagbaja highlighted the military’s significant reliance on imported defense equipment due to Nigeria’s limited industrial capabilities. He voiced concern over the insufficient funding for the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), which has hindered operational effectiveness.

“In a nation of over 200 million people, it is impractical to rely on security agencies, totaling around two million personnel, including an army of just over 100,000 active members without a reserve force, to safeguard the entire population,” Lagbaja said. He emphasized Nigeria’s continued reliance on foreign military supplies, noting that the country imports over 90% of its defense equipment despite some local production efforts.

General Lagbaja further noted that national development and security are costly endeavors. He explained, “In 2023, the entire AFN had a budget of about $2.8 billion, with an additional supplementary budget of around one billion dollars. However, not all allocated funds were fully released. Although funding for the AFN has been increasing annually since 2017, the country’s economic challenges have reduced the actual value of what is released. The lack of adequate funding impacts the AFN’s equipment holdings, which in turn affects their performance.”

Addressing the personnel shortage, Lagbaja stated, “The significant resource gap is being exploited by criminal elements. To counter this, investment is needed to expand and strengthen security forces, ensuring sufficient personnel and resources.” He also emphasized the importance of citizen involvement in national security efforts. “National security requires the active participation of all citizens in the security framework, fostering vigilance, trust, and community engagement. This will create a more resilient population, better equipped to respond to national emergencies,” he added.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Wahab Egbewole, also addressed the gathering, highlighting the crucial connection between peace, security, and sustainable development. The lecture, organized by the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies at the University of Ilorin in collaboration with the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre, Jaji, was part of the events marking the United Nations International Day of Peace.