The Chief of Army Staff, General Taoreed Lagbaja, stated yesterday that it is unrealistic to expect two million security personnel to safeguard Nigeria’s population of over 200 million.
General Lagbaja made this statement during the 2024 Distinguished Personality Lecture in Ilorin, Kwara State. Represented by the Chief of Army Training, Sanni Mohammed, Lagbaja emphasized the military’s significant dependence on imported defense equipment due to the country’s weak industrial infrastructure.
He also voiced concerns about the inadequate funding of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), noting that this shortfall has negatively impacted the military’s operational effectiveness.
He explained, “With a population exceeding 200 million, it is impractical for security agencies, which include around two million personnel, and an army of just over 100,000 active soldiers without a reserve force, to effectively protect everyone.”
Lagbaja added that despite some local production efforts, Nigeria remains overwhelmingly dependent on imported military supplies, with over 90% of its defense needs sourced from abroad.
He also highlighted that balancing national security with development is financially burdensome, as defense policies require significant capital investment.
“In 2023, the AFN had a budget of approximately $2.8 billion, supplemented by an additional $1 billion. However, not all allocated funds were fully disbursed.
Although the funding for the AFN has improved annually since 2017, the country’s economic challenges have diminished the actual value of what has been released.”
Lagbaja further noted that the lack of adequate funding affects the military’s equipment and performance. Addressing the personnel shortage, he stated, “The significant gap in resources is being exploited by criminal elements.
Closing this gap will require investment in expanding and enhancing security forces, ensuring sufficient personnel and resources.”
He concluded by emphasizing that national security demands active participation from all citizens, fostering vigilance, trust, and community involvement, which would strengthen the country’s ability to respond to emergencies.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Wahab Egbewole, also spoke at the event, underscoring the critical role of peace and security in achieving sustainable development.
The lecture was organized by the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies at the University of Ilorin, in collaboration with the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre, Jaji, as part of the United Nations International Day of Peace celebrations.
