Insecurity: Interior, Defence Ministers Push For United Military-Paramilitary Front

In a renewed push to confront banditry, terrorism and other security threats facing the country, the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd), have reaffirmed the federal fovernment’s commitment to a coordinated, intelligence-driven security strategy.

Both ministers emphasised that stronger collaboration between internal and external security agencies remained crucial to ensuring public safety and national stability.

Tunji-Ojo made this known in Abuja while receiving the Defence Minister, a meeting both officials said reflected President Bola Tinubu’s directive for seamless cooperation across Nigeria’s security architecture.

Welcoming his counterpart, the Interior Minister described the visit as a demonstration of shared resolve, stressing that Nigeria’s security challenges demands unity rather than institutional rivalry.

“This visit shows that you are bringing your experience to bear and that the internal and external security agencies must become one by working together.

“Our thoughts are well aligned. Security is both internal and external, and if internal agencies do the needful, the military will not be overstretched. We have no choice but to work together; working in silence or being territorial is not in the interest of the nation,” the Interior Minister said.

Tunji-Ojo acknowledged the seriousness of the country’s security challenges but argued that public perception often exaggerates the situation, noting that effective border management remains fundamental to national security.

“A safe border is a safe nation. If you can’t protect your borders, you can’t guarantee the safety of a nation,” he said.

He explained that his vision for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) was for the agency to operate as a specialised body focused on its core mandate, rather than competing with the police or the military.

According to the Interior Minister, internal security agencies are meant to complement the armed forces, adding that effective synergy, robust data management and timely information sharing are essential to achieving lasting security gains.

He also disclosed plans to establish an inter-ministerial committee to harmonise the operations of both ministries.

“We must block all lines of division. What matters to Nigerians is performance and safety, so we must eliminate communication gaps”, he said.

In his remarks, Gen. Musa commended the Ministry of Interior for its efforts at strengthening internal security, describing security as the bedrock of national development.

“Without security, there is no development,” he said, noting that no single institution possesses a monopoly over intelligence and that cooperation remains indispensable.

The Defence Minister called for increased deployment of technology to enhance intelligence gathering and sharing, adding that institutions such as the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) could play a significant role in generating actionable intelligence.

He proposed the creation of a joint technical committee comprising internal and external security agencies to meet quarterly on national security matters, as well as the development of a comprehensive, shared security database.

“A stronger alliance will boost public safety,” Musa said, pointing out that many countries confronting asymmetric threats continue to progress due to effective coordination among their security institutions.

He warned that paramilitary agencies are increasingly positioned on the frontline against criminal elements and must be adequately equipped and prepared to prevent avoidable loss of lives while safeguarding the nation.