Hunger, Poverty Now National Security Threats – CDS Warns at Abuja Security Summit

Abuja, Nigeria. July 2025, …ONN…

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, has raised alarm over the growing threat posed by hunger and poverty, describing them as critical drivers of national insecurity.

Speaking on Monday at the opening of the 14th National Security Seminar in Abuja, Gen. Musa emphasized that the twin issues are no longer just social or economic problems but have escalated into full-blown security concerns with destabilizing consequences for Nigeria’s peace and development.

The seminar, themed “Combating Hunger and Poverty for Sustainable Peace and Development in Nigeria,” was organised by the Alumni Association of the National Defence College (AANDEC), in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the National Defence College (NDC).

Represented by the Chief of Defence Training and Operations, Rear Admiral Ibrahim Shettima, the CDS urged for a unified and strategic national response to address poverty and hunger, warning that their unchecked spread is aggravating the country’s internal security situation.

“Insecurity today transcends armed conflict; it is now deeply rooted in economic deprivation, food scarcity, and social instability,” Musa said. “The North Central region, particularly Benue State, once Nigeria’s food basket, has been crippled by banditry, forced displacement, and farmer-herder clashes, severely impacting agricultural output.”

He noted that the destruction of farming communities and the illegal occupation of farmlands have spurred food inflation, internal displacement, and increased migration, undermining economic stability and social cohesion.

Calling for greater community participation in security efforts, the CDS encouraged citizens to support intelligence gathering and remain vigilant in reporting threats. He also called for renewed investment in grassroots agriculture, urging the government and private sector to reposition farming as an honorable and profitable vocation.

“With the youth leaving rural areas for cities, farming is declining,” he said. “We must make agriculture appealing again, not as a fallback, but as a national priority.”

Musa also lauded President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on granting financial autonomy to local governments, describing it as a vital move for responsive and sustainable development.

“I assure you that the Armed Forces of Nigeria, working in synergy with other security agencies and with the support of the populace, remain committed to confronting all security challenges,” he declared. “Our vision is a Nigeria where every citizen lives in peace, contributes productively, and enjoys the full dividends of democracy.”

In his remarks, AANDEC President, retired Air Commodore Darlington Abdullahi, stressed the importance of tackling insecurity through non-military means, including education, economic empowerment, and social inclusion.

“Hunger and poverty are no longer just humanitarian concerns; they are strategic threats to Nigeria’s national stability,” he said. “As the saying goes, ‘the children of the poor you fail to train will never let your children have peace.’”

He warned that millions of vulnerable Nigerians facing hunger and poverty are at risk of radicalization and exploitation by criminal elements. Investing in education, skills, and inclusive economic initiatives, he noted, is key to fostering peace and building resilience.

Abdullahi also called for the establishment of a vocational and leadership development centre for widows and children of fallen military personnel, saying such an initiative would empower vulnerable groups and promote national healing.

Members of AANDEC, comprising retired military officers and senior public servants, were praised for their continued dedication to national unity and security beyond their active service.

The seminar continues this week with panel discussions and strategy sessions aimed at generating actionable solutions to Nigeria’s complex security and development challenges.

NAN