19/09/2024
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE FIRST STRATEGIC PUBLIC LECTURE BY IPSS, UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN (SEPT 13, 2024)
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, delivered a powerful address on Nigeria’s ongoing security challenges during the inaugural Strategic Public Lecture organised by the Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies (IPSS), University of Ibadan.
In his address, Lt. Gen. Lagbaja made it clear that no single agency can independently overcome Nigeria’s complex security issues. He emphasised the importance of a whole-of-society approach to tackle these problems. He stressed that to achieve lasting security and stability, poverty and unemployment the twin problems that often fuel insecurity must be addressed.
“A whole-of-society approach must be implemented in Nigeria by leveraging the strength of every stakeholder to ensure a cohesive and coordinated response to threats,” said Lt. Gen. Lagbaja. He further emphasised the importance of communication, cooperation, and trust among various sectors of the society. These sectors must align their efforts with national interests and other security objectives, to ensure a sustainable response to the threats facing the country.
This strategy, according to the COAS, can effectively address the root causes of insecurity, which are often exploited by adversaries. These include poverty, unemployment, and social injustice. Lt. Gen. Lagbaja expressed his confidence in the ability of the Nigerian Army to evolve an effective strategy to decimate adversaries and restore peace to Nigeria.
The lecture was a call to action for collaboration across society, recognising that unity and coordinated efforts are the keys to addressing Nigeria’s security challenges holistically.
Let’s join hands in building a safer, more secure Nigeria.
