The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, has underscored the importance of joint initiatives in community engagement, calling for the revitalization of jetties and waterway terminals as critical alternatives for transport and logistics. He noted that such investments would not only enhance security but also stimulate economic growth in the South-South region.
The remarks came during a high-level meeting at Defence Headquarters, Abuja, on Wednesday, where the Managing Director of the SSDC, Ms. Usoro Akpabio, led a delegation to engage the nation’s top military leadership.
General Musa gave the assurance of full military partnership while endorsing the proactive approach of the South-South Development Commission (SSDC).
He reaffirmed the Armed Forces’ commitment to protecting critical infrastructure and pledged support for the Commission’s mission.
The CDS also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for establishing the SSDC at a crucial time for regional stability and development.
Akpabio, who was accompanied by SSDC board member Dr. Charles Sylvester Enukhowate and executive directors Hon. Joseph and Hon. Marcus Nle Ejii, presented a comprehensive agenda for collaboration with the military.
The talks addressed key security and developmental concerns in the South-South, including militancy, pipeline vandalism, illegal mining, and recurring community violence. The SSDC proposed detailed frameworks for intelligence sharing, rapid response mechanisms, community engagement, and capacity building, all aimed at stabilizing the region and ensuring sustained growth.
Observers described the engagement, initiated under Akpabio’s leadership, as a turning point in civil-military cooperation—a bold step toward building a peaceful, secure, and economically vibrant South-South.