Chief of Army Staff, General Taoreed Lagbaja, has emphasized the challenge of expecting two million security personnel to effectively safeguard Nigeria’s population of over 200 million people.
General Lagbaja made this statement during the 2024 Distinguished Personality Lecture held in Ilorin, Kwara State.
Represented by the Chief of Army Training, Sanni Mohammed, General Lagbaja highlighted the military’s heavy reliance on imported defence equipment due to the country’s limited industrial capacity.
He expressed concern over the inadequate funding of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), which he said has hampered operational efficiency.
“In a country of over 200 million people, it is unrealistic to expect security agencies, totalling around two million, including an army of just over 100,000 active personnel without a reserve force, to secure the entire population,” Lagbaja stated.
He pointed out that Nigeria continues to import more than 90% of its military equipment, despite some local production efforts, stressing the nation’s overdependence on foreign supplies.
General Lagbaja further noted that national development and security are both expensive undertakings.
He remarked, “In 2023, the entire AFN had a budget of about $2.8 billion, with an additional supplementary budget of around one billion dollars. However, not all budgetary allocations were fully released.
“Although funding for the AFN has been improving annually since 2017, the country’s economic downturn has eroded the actual value of what is released.
“The lack of funding affects the AFN’s equipment holdings, which directly impacts performance.”
Touching on the personnel gap, Lagbaja said, “The considerable resource gap is being exploited by criminal elements. Addressing this requires investment in expanding and strengthening security forces, ensuring adequate personnel and resources.”
He also stressed the need for citizens to take an active role in the nation’s security efforts.
“National security requires all citizens to be part of the security framework, fostering vigilance, trust, and community engagement. This will create a more resilient citizenry, better equipped to respond to national emergencies,” he added.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Wahab Egbewole, also spoke at the event, underlining the vital link between peace, security, and sustainable development.
The lecture, organized by the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies at the University of Ilorin in partnership with the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre, Jaji, was part of the events commemorating the United Nations International Day of Peace.