Former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Martin Luther Agwai (rtd.), has warned that military power alone cannot guarantee national security, saying that military power must be complemented by economic, technological, diplomatic, and good leadership.
“Projecting power, military is one of the areas we can project our power. But there are so many other ways we can. First of all, we even need to equip the military properly, train them properly and provide them the necessary weapons.
“We also need to strengthen our economic power. We also need to diversify our economy and create jobs and train people to be job creators, not job seekers every now and then,” he said.
Delivering a lecture titled Knowledge, Power and National Security in the 21st Century: Nigeria in Perspective at the 10th anniversary of the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) on Wednesday, Agwai said efforts must be made to reduce poverty in the country and check population growth.
“If you overpopulate the system and you do not know how to absorb them, we will continue to grapple with insecurity,” he said.
He said he was taken aback by the incidents of the last two weeks, when bandits stormed schools, kidnapping pupils in Kebbi and Niger states, as well as the abduction and killings in Kwara State.
“Why must we go to threaten, kill, slaughter others? I’m so taken aback that in the past two weeks or so, everywhere in general, what is happening? Why is this? We didn’t need to make somebody in America tell us that you have problems in Nigeria, and the problems of Nigeria are big for Nigeria.
“And I am so sure that we are capable of solving our national issues if we take them and know that the survival of Nigeria collectively is important.”
Agwai urged Nigerians to tolerate one another, live peacefully, desist from misinformation and disinformation, and trust in themselves and political leadership for the country to move forward.
The special guest of honour and Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, noted that over the past decade, the centre had remained a beacon of knowledge, research, and strategic thought, contributing immensely to strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture.
Represented by the Chief of Administration (Army), Shaibu said the centre’s consistent output—research studies, policy briefs, publications, and training—had significantly expanded the capacity to address evolving threats.
“Our country continues to grapple with complex and multidimensional security challenges that threaten national stability and socio-economic progress across various geopolitical zones.
These threats demand that our security forces adopt adaptive, innovative, and knowledge-driven strategies.
It is in this regard that the Centre must further refocus its efforts on exploring new frontiers of research, technology, and strategic thought to improve operational and tactical outcomes in the field.
“Therefore, as you begin the next decade, I challenge and encourage the management and staff of this Centre to build on your current achievements. Deepen your research, expand your innovative drive, and strengthen collaborations with local and international partners to enhance the Centre’s relevance and effectiveness,” the army chief said.
In an address of welcome, the Director-General of NARC, Maj.-Gen. James Nyam (rtd.), said since its establishment, the centre has remained a steadfast intellectual hub for the Nigerian Army and the nation at large.
He also said that it has been dedicated to knowledge advancement, research, innovation, and the development of evidence-based solutions to national defence and security challenges, as well as broader national development issues.
