Synergy Between Ministries of Defence and Interior Critical to National Security — Defence Minister
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ABUJA-2026
The Honourable Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), has underscored the imperative of a strong, institutionalised partnership between the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Interior as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s national security, safety, and sustainable development.
The Defence Minister made this assertion on Friday, 16 January 2026, during a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Interior in Abuja. He noted that the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the internal security architecture supervised by the Ministry of Interior are fundamentally complementary, representing “two sides of the same coin” in safeguarding the nation against both external and internal threats.
General Musa observed that the evolving nature of security challenges — including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, transnational organised crime, and cross-border criminal activities — has further blurred the traditional boundaries between internal and external security. According to him, these realities demand closer cooperation, shared responsibility, and a unified national response. He stressed that without a secure environment, meaningful and sustainable national development cannot be achieved.
The Minister emphasised the need for seamless collaboration, intelligence sharing, joint operations, and coordinated responses among the Armed Forces of Nigeria and key internal security agencies, including the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigerian Correctional Service, and other relevant stakeholders. He acknowledged that no single institution can effectively address Nigeria’s complex and multifaceted security challenges in isolation, thereby making a collaborative, whole-of-government approach indispensable.
General Musa further disclosed that concerted efforts are underway to strengthen border management, protect critical national assets and infrastructure, and institutionalise structured cooperation through robust inter-ministerial and inter-agency frameworks. He stated that capacity building, joint training programmes, and the deployment of modern technology for real-time situational awareness remain top priorities of the Defence establishment.
Reaffirming his commitment to Nigerians, the Defence Minister assured that the Ministry of Defence will continue to work closely with the Ministry of Interior and all relevant stakeholders to build a stronger, more responsive, and unified national security architecture in the interest of peace, stability, and public confidence.
In his response, the Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olatunji Ojo, affirmed that national security is a holistic concept encompassing both internal and external dimensions. He noted that when internal security agencies effectively discharge their responsibilities, the military is better positioned to focus on its core defence mandate.
According to him, “Nigeria’s national security architecture stands on a tripod of intelligence, internal security, and the military,” stressing that intelligence remains the foundation upon which effective security operations are built. Dr. Ojo likened the Ministries of Defence and Interior to “Siamese twins,” emphasising that their close relationship makes cooperation not optional, but essential.
He further stated that secure borders are fundamental to a secure nation, noting that no country can guarantee the safety of its citizens without the capacity to effectively protect and manage its borders. Enhanced border management, he said, is central to national peace and stability and can only be achieved through sustained collaboration between internal security agencies and the Ministry of Defence.
Dr. Ojo congratulated General Musa on his appointment as Honourable Minister of Defence and pledged the Ministry of Interior’s full cooperation in strengthening Nigeria’s security framework. He expressed optimism that the renewed partnership between both ministries would yield tangible results in reinforcing the nation’s security architecture and enhancing the safety and well-being of all Nigerians.
