The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has identified hunger and poverty as serious social challenges that are largely responsible for the continuous national security threats being experienced in the country.
General Musa stated this in Abuja on Monday at the 14th National Security Seminar organised by the Alumni Association of the National Defence College.
The Chief of Defence Staff, who was represented by the Chief of Defence Training at the Defence Headquarters, Rear Admiral Ibrahim Shetimma, called for a unified national approach to combating hunger and poverty in addition to timely reporting of suspicious movements.
“Insecurity is no longer defined solely on the presence of arms and ammunition, but is now also rooted in economic deprivation, food insecurity, social dislocation.
“Indeed, empowering the youths, enhancing livelihood, promoting tolerance and encouraging private investment are critical blocks in constructing a secure, resilient nation,” the CDS said.
On his part, the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, advocated the need for human-centred security approaches capable of addressing the root causes of insecurity, including unemployment, poverty, and social exclusion.
The seminar with the theme, “Combating Hunger and Poverty for Sustainable Peace and Development in Nigeria,” was organised in collaboration with the office of the National Security Adviser and National Defence College.