The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), has attributed some of Nigeria’s security challenges to instability in the Sahel region, warning that threats from the troubled region can spill across the country’s borders.
Musa, however, assured Nigerians in the diaspora that the Federal Government was intensifying measures to strengthen national security, secure the country’s borders and create a safer environment for citizens at home and abroad.
The Minister spoke during an interactive engagement with members of the Nigerian community in Angola, held on the sidelines of the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) in Luanda, Angola.
He said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remained committed to neutralising security threats nationwide, adding that the government was strengthening the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies in terms of personnel and operational capacity.
“Some of our ongoing challenges stem from regional instability in the Sahel, which trickles across our borders. However, comprehensive border management measures are actively being implemented to curb these incursions,” Musa said.
He assured Nigerians living abroad that the government was implementing targeted interventions across sectors to reinforce the country’s security architecture and restore lasting peace and stability.
According to him, the Federal Government is also integrating reliable data into national security strategies and development planning as part of efforts to improve the country’s capacity to anticipate and respond to emerging threats.
Musa said the government’s security interventions were aimed not only at protecting lives and property but also at creating an environment in which Nigerians in the diaspora could visit their homeland with greater confidence.
The Minister expressed appreciation to the Nigerian community in Angola for maintaining a cordial relationship with the Nigerian diplomatic mission, assuring them of the government’s commitment to addressing security concerns affecting Nigerians.
The Nigerian delegation to the AU Summit was led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Tinubu.
Also at the engagement were the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa; and Acting Chargé d’Affaires of the Nigerian Mission in Angola, Ambassador Maxy Ogbede.
Tunji-Ojo, in his remarks, highlighted recent improvements in data protection and identity management, saying stronger inter-agency collaboration was already producing measurable results.
Dabiri-Erewa, on her part, assured Nigerians in the diaspora that NiDCOM remained committed to their welfare and to creating opportunities through which their contributions could further support national development.
