Defence minister Christopher Musa has restated the need for stronger international partnerships to tackle terrorism, banditry, oil theft, cybercrime, and other emerging security threats.

Mr Musa‌, who made the call on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, said such a strategy would involve government, communities, international partners, and the private sector.

According to him, Nigeria’s security challenges have become too interconnected for any single institution or country to tackle alone.

“Nigeria’s security challenges are national in their impact, regional in their consequences, and increasingly international in their implications,” Mr Musa stated.

He explained that while military and other security operations remain essential to protecting Nigerians and territorial integrity, lasting peace and stability cannot be achieved through military action alone.

According to him, Nigeria is therefore seeking practical partnerships with the UN, the African Union, ECOWAS, bilateral partners, civil society, researchers, and the private sector to strengthen its security capabilities and institutions.

He reiterated that the government was pursuing measures, including recruiting an additional 22,000 personnel, restructuring army divisions, strengthening subnational security arrangements, and proposing state police and forest guards.

(NAN)