The Honourable Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), has underscored the imperative of strong collaboration between the Ministries of Defence and Interior, describing it as critical to Nigeria’s security, safety, and sustainable development.
General Musa made the remarks during a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Interior on Friday, 16 January 2026, in Abuja. He noted that both ministries represent “two sides of the same coin,” with responsibility for external and internal security respectively, adding that their roles have become increasingly interconnected in the face of contemporary threats such as terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and cross-border crimes. According to him, no meaningful or sustainable national development can be achieved without adequate security.
The Defence Minister stressed the need for seamless cooperation, intelligence sharing, joint operations, and coordinated responses among the Armed Forces of Nigeria and internal security agencies, including the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigerian Correctional Service, and other relevant bodies. He acknowledged that Nigeria’s complex security challenges cannot be effectively addressed by any single institution acting alone, hence the necessity for a collaborative and integrated approach.
General Musa disclosed that ongoing efforts are aimed at strengthening border management, protecting critical national assets and infrastructure, and institutionalising structured cooperation through inter-ministerial and inter-agency frameworks. He further highlighted capacity building, joint training, and the deployment of technology for real-time situational awareness as key priorities. Reaffirming his commitment, he assured Nigerians that the Defence establishment would continue to work closely with the Ministry of Interior and other 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, emphasized that national security is a fusion of 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 mandate. Describing Nigeria’s security framework as resting on a tripod of intelligence, internal security, and the military, Dr. Ojo stressed that intelligence remains the cornerstone of effective security operations.
He likened the Ministries of Defence and Interior to “Siamese twins,” stressing that both must work in close synergy to achieve national security objectives. Dr. Ojo further noted that effective border management is fundamental to national safety, observing that no country can guarantee the security of its citizens without adequately protecting its borders. He added that sustained collaboration between internal security agencies and the Ministry of Defence is essential to ensuring safe borders, peace, and stability.
Dr. Ojo congratulated General Musa on his appointment as Minister of Defence and pledged the Ministry of Interior’s commitment to working closely with him to further strengthen Nigeria’s national security architecture. He expressed optimism that the collaboration between both ministries would yield positive and enduring results.
