Mariam Abeeb
A former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Martin Luther Agwai, has warned Nigerians against increasingly placing ethnic, religious and sectional identity above national unity.
He made this known while delivering a lecture titled, “Knowledge, Power and National Security in the 21st Century: Nigeria in Perspective,” at the 10th Anniversary celebration of the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) in Abuja.
He explained that Nigeria risks deeper insecurity and national fragility unless it confronts worsening ethnic, religious and social divisions.
According to him, the communal conflicts that once defined certain regions had faded, but new forms of divisions and distrust were emerging, creating fertile ground for insecurity.
“We have gradually become a nation of so many nations. Most of us now take our ethnic groups, our religious groups and our social affiliations above the nation. That is why we are facing what we are facing.
“We now threaten, kill and slaughter each other in the name of things none of us has ever seen,” he said.
The former CDS said recent developments nationwide show Nigeria’s problems are “big, real and urgent,” but insisted the country has the capacity to solve them.
“We do not need anybody in America to tell us we have problems. I am so sure we are capable of solving our national issues if we accept that our collective survival is more important than personal or sectional interests,” he added.
Citing the resurgence of Boko Haram, Agwai said that Nigeria had continued to suffer the consequences of weak intelligence management.
According to him, when there is an intelligence gap, there is a knowledge gap, and if we have a knowledge gap, we cannot deploy military power effectively.
He criticised poor coordination and competition among security agencies which, he said, often delays early response to threats.
The retired general described cybercrime as one of Nigeria’s most dangerous and escalating threats, revealing that the country’s financial institutions lost over N1.1 trillion to cyberattacks in seven years.
He also noted that the Gulf of Guinea remained one of the most dangerous maritime regions in the world, warning that piracy continues to affect Nigeria’s trade and oil economy.
In his remark, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has challenged the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) to deepen its research efforts and explore fresh knowledge-driven strategies to tackle Nigeria’s evolving security threats.
Shaibu, represented by the Chief of Administration (Army), Maj.-Gen. Isa Abdullahi, said that NARC must step up its role as the Army’s premier think tank as the nation faces increasingly complex security challenges.
“There is still much more to be done. As you commence the next decade, I charge the management and staff of the centre to build on current achievements and deepen your search for innovative solutions that can enhance operational and tactical outcomes in the field,” he said.
Shaibu commended the centre’s contributions in publishing research papers, conducting training and providing policy guidance, describing it as “a beacon of knowledge and strategic power.”
“Your work has strengthened our national security framework, but the demands of the future require even more forward-looking research, creativity and innovation,” he added.
While congratulating the management and staff of NARC on the milestone, the COAS reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s loyalty to the Constitution and appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support.
The Director-General of the Centre, retired Maj.-Gen. James Myam, said the anniversary symbolised “a decade of dedication to knowledge, strategic foresight and national service.”
Myam noted that the centre had grown from a small research outfit into a national hub for defence innovation, strategy development and capacity building.
He said NARC had invested significantly in research programmes, simulation training, policy development and partnerships that have improved the army’s ability to anticipate and respond to emerging threats.
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