The Chief of Army Staff, General Taoreed Lagbaja, stated yesterday that it is unrealistic for approximately two million security personnel to ensure the safety of over 200 million Nigerians.
He made this assertion during the 2024 Distinguished Personality Lecture held in Ilorin, Kwara State.
Represented by Chief of Army Training Sanni Mohammed, General Lagbaja pointed out the military’s significant dependence on imported defense equipment, which is largely due to Nigeria’s underdeveloped industrial sector. He also raised concerns regarding the inadequate funding of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), which he argued critically hampers military operational effectiveness.
“In a nation with over 200 million people, expecting around two million security personnel—including just over 100,000 active army members without a reserve force—to secure the entire populace is simply unrealistic,” he noted. The General highlighted that over 90 percent of the military’s requirements are imported, despite some initiatives to boost local production capabilities.
Lagbaja elaborated, “Pursuing national development alongside security is an expensive endeavor, as defense policies are inherently capital-intensive.” He revealed that the AFN had a budget of approximately $2.8 billion for 2023, along with an additional supplementary budget of about $1 billion, although not all allocations were fully released. While funding for the AFN has seen annual improvements since 2017, the economic downturn has diminished the real value of these allocations.
He emphasized the impact of insufficient funding on the AFN’s equipment and overall performance, stating, “The resource gap is being exploited by criminal elements, and addressing this requires significant investment in expanding and strengthening security forces while ensuring adequate personnel and resources.”
In a broader call to action, he urged that national security is a collective responsibility, requiring active participation from all citizens to foster vigilance, trust, and community engagement. This collaborative approach is essential for building a resilient society capable of responding effectively to national emergencies.
Professor Wahab Egbewole, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, also spoke at the event, underscoring the vital link between peace, security, and sustainable development.
The lecture was organized by the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies at the University of Ilorin, in partnership with the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre, Jaji, as part of activities commemorating the United Nations International Day of Peace.
