Ex-CDS Agwai urges military to adapt to changing global security threats

Former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Martin Luther Agwai (rtd.), has urged the Nigerian military to adapt to changing global security dynamics to effectively respond to emerging threats and fulfil its constitutional responsibilities.

Agwai said the nature of security challenges across the world was changing rapidly, making it imperative for Nigeria and its armed forces to move with the times.

He spoke at the presentation of two military biographies, Defender of the Nation and Portrait of Honour, written by Hon. John Ngamsa in honour of late Lt. Gen. G.S. Jalo and Maj. Gen. A. Shelleng, who were celebrated for their contributions to Nigeria’s military history and national unity.

The former defence chief noted that conflicts in different parts of the world, including the Russia-Ukraine war and the Middle East, demonstrated the evolving nature of global security challenges.

He said, “The world is changing and changing very fast. And what I would say on our own part in the country, that we have to move with time.

“The world is changing. The dynamics of the world are changing. And we have to move with time if we really want to be reckoned and recognised and be able to achieve what the country has set the armed forces to do.”

Agwai, who described the late Jalo as one of Nigeria’s unsung heroes, commended Ngamsa for documenting the contributions of military officers whose roles in preserving the country’s unity and defending its territorial integrity had not received sufficient public recognition.

He said, “There are so many of our heroes whom we have not sung their song enough. General Jalo is one of them.”

According to him, the late general, who served as Nigeria’s second Chief of Defence Staff, made significant contributions to stabilising the country, despite not being a particularly visible figure.

Agwai said documenting the lives of such military officers was important to help Nigerians understand the sacrifices and contributions of those who had worked to preserve the nation.

Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), paid tribute to the late military officers while describing them as disciplined, professional and patriotic soldiers whose contributions helped shape Nigeria.

Marwa said their discipline, bearing, professionalism and patriotism were worthy of emulation, adding that both officers were war heroes who contributed to the unity and development of the country.

Speaking, former Adamawa State Commissioner for Information, Ahmed Sajoh, lamented the erosion of national values and moral standards among younger generations.

He warned that the country risked continuing in a cycle of poor leadership if integrity and patriotism were not restored.

Sajoh said the country’s tragedy was rooted in the loss of its moral compass, with many young Nigerians increasingly prioritising wealth, influence and political power over integrity and service.

“The tragedy of this country is that we have lost our values. And because we have lost our values, because we have lost our moral compass, we don’t know what is good or bad,” he said.

He expressed concern that young people no longer looked for mentors based on integrity and values, but were increasingly attracted to people who had accumulated wealth and political influence.

Sajoh said the lives of military officers such as Jalo and Shelleng offered important lessons about service, sacrifice and commitment to national unity.

He said, “Mentors, people like General Jalo and Shelleng, remind us of the fact that service is about integrity. It’s about sacrifice. It’s about defending the unity of the nation.

“Defending the peace and security of the nation is about defending what is good and going against what is bad in the system.”

The former commissioner warned that the manipulation of religious and ethnic differences for political purposes, alongside the use of money to influence vulnerable communities, would continue to undermine national cohesion.

He said Nigeria needed to restore the values that motivated previous generations to sacrifice their lives and personal interests for the country’s unity, peace and security.

In his remarks, the author, Ngamsa, said his decision to write the books was inspired by his personal encounters with the late generals and his admiration for their humility, patriotism and contributions to Nigeria.

Ngamsa, who described himself as a son of a soldier, said his upbringing taught him to respect members of the armed forces and appreciate their sacrifices.

He recalled meeting the generals decades ago and said the encounters had left lasting impressions on him, particularly their willingness to engage with him despite their positions and military backgrounds.

He said, “I had the privilege early in all of my life to have met them. And the generals were humble enough to have given me the space to discuss with them.

“That inspired me beyond the way you think. You know, I’m a son of a soldier. All my life I grew up to respect soldiers.”

Ngamsa said the memories of the generals continued to haunt him, particularly after their deaths, prompting him to document their lives and preserve their legacies for future generations.

He added that he repeatedly encountered their sketches in his library and felt they deserved to be remembered through properly documented biographies.

The author stressed that the project was not motivated by financial gains but by his conviction that Nigerians needed to celebrate people who had made sacrifices for the country’s survival and unity.

“I felt they deserved it. And we should not only do things to make money. As a biographer, it is not necessary to do that,” he said.

Ngamsa said the attendance of dignitaries at the presentation, despite the event being organised through his personal initiative, demonstrated that Nigerians still appreciated the sacrifices of those who served the country.

He said the late generals had consistently worked for the unity of the country, defended its territory and made sacrifices to ensure that Nigeria remained together.

Reflecting on the importance of their legacies, he said service, commitment and patriotism were values the country needed to recover.

Ngamsa added that he remained proud of Nigeria despite its challenges, insisting that the sacrifices of previous generations should inspire citizens to contribute to the country’s development rather than dwell on past difficulties.

He said, “I love Nigeria. For the labour of our heroes past and the things they’ve done to put us together.”