The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, on Friday in Ibadan, urged Nigerians and stakeholders to collaborate with the military to ensure a cohesive and coordinated response to threats.

The COAS made the appeal at the first strategic personality lecture of the Institute of Peace and Strategic Studies (IPSS), University of Ibadan.

Mr Lagbaja, who was represented by Maj.-Gen. Obinna Onubogu, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), Nigerian Army 2 Div, said the nature of security threats in Nigeria called for a holistic approach.

The lecture was titled “Combating an Adversary Without Boundaries: The Need to Implement A Whole of Society Approach to Nigeria’s National Security”.

Mr Lagbaja added that there must be enhanced communication, cooperation and trust among the different sectors to ensure national interests and security objectives.

He said the federal government had bought into the concept of the “Whole of Society Approach” in 2016.

”This was by setting up the Presidential Committee on the North-East Initiative (PCNI) and the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) through the NEDC Establishment Acts in 2017,” Mr Lagbaja said.

He said the country’s contemporary security environment was fluid and constantly evolving with the influence of external actors with the capacity to disrupt, damage and destroy people, assets and infrastructure.

“The national security strategy, among others, recognises the importance of this concept.

“However, its implementation has become rather slow due to some factors such as collaboration among stakeholders, security awareness, and use of technology, among others,” Mr Lagbaja said.

He called on both the ministry of education and the National Orientation Agency to assist in sensitising citizens and stakeholders on security awareness and education.

”This is important as well in understanding the supremacy of national interest and citizens’ responsibility.”

Mr Lagbaja lamented the country’s porous borders, which have been a major security threat, thereby necessitating collaboration and synergy to advance a non-kinetic approach to curb the situation.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, emphasised the importance of the lecture and its timeliness.

Mr Adebowale added that the institution would continue to be at the vanguard of driving intellectualism through cutting-edge research and collaborations for the betterment of Nigeria.

In his address earlier, the chairman of the occasion and a former commander, MJTF N’Djamena, Lt.-Gen. Lamidi Adeosun (rtd.), commended the military’s role in keeping the nation one.

“The military deserves much commendation in risking soldiers’ lives to ensure the security of lives and property.

“Also, the topic was strategically chosen to ensure that everyone can work together to build the country,” he said.

In her address, the director, IPSS, Prof. Ruth Adio-Moses, said the event was the first strategic personality lecture organised by the institute.

She pointed out that it was geared towards ensuring an end to the various threats confronting.

“The topic was strategically chosen knowing the current precarious threats facing Nigeria, such as insurgency, terrorism, separatist agitations and violent extremism, and the need for a whole social approach,” Mrs Adio-Moses said.

(NAN)