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From Molly Kilete, Abuja
Former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Admiral Ola Ibrahim (retd.), has attributed the worsening security situation in Nigeria to its rich economic potential and the inability to effectively man the country’s numerous unmanned borders.
Ibrahim also said that while Nigeria’s economic potential has continued to attract external threats, internal divisions ranging from tribe and religion to other petty attitudes have further worsened the security situation.
The former CDS, who made this known at the reunion of the 42nd Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Abuja, noted that while many Nigerians may not perceive the country as prosperous due to daily challenges, outsiders often view Nigeria as a place where resources can be exploited.
Admiral Ibrahim, who served as the 14th Chief of Defence Staff from 2012 to 2014, said: “One of our sins is that Nigeria is prosperous. You know what prosperity does to a nation? It invites many things in. And our borders are very porous. We are paying the price for being prosperous.”
The former CDS, who warned that predictions made years ago that Nigeria would disintegrate have not disappeared, said that the brains behind such actions are yet to sheath their swords.
“Remember, some people thought this country would disintegrate almost 10 years ago. Those people are still at war. They are still at war.
“Because you live with us every day, you can’t see what other people see. Are you with me? They want to make this country disintegrate.”
Adm Ibrahim, who described members of the 42nd Regular Course as officers prepared for the turbulence confronting Nigeria, said that many of them have held critical command positions across the country.
According to him: “Your generation was prepared for the turbulence that defines this country today. I am quite sure you must have been in one sector or the other, managing the kind of turbulence that has tried to consume the essence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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“Turbulence, I call it, specifically because our generation saw the problem we are solving now as if it was a child’s play.”
He also urged senior officers to maintain strong bonds with their colleagues, stressing that national security cannot be handled by individuals acting alone.
He said: “Not one person can do it alone. Apart from NDA uniting all of us, we have no other country but Nigeria.”
Reflecting on his military career, Ibrahim said he was glad to have played a role in key security reforms, including the creation of new military divisions in the North-West and North-East.
“I am very glad that, as Chief of Defence Staff, I was at the head of the table when we created the division in the North-West and the division in the North-East, because we understood that a joint task force could not efficiently manage the kind of challenge we were faced with,” he said.
Earlier, in his address, President of the 42nd Regular Course, Major General Oyinlola, who is also the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division, described the reunion as a moment of reflection, celebration and renewed commitment among course members.
Oyinlola said the gathering highlighted the enduring bond formed during days of training at the NDA, adding that members of the course had been shaped by shared sacrifice, discipline and values-driven leadership.
He however pointed out that although members had been separated by postings and responsibilities, the spirit of the course remained strong, just as he urged members to reconnect, strengthen unity and support one another beyond ranks and appointments.
The course president, who used the occasion to pay glowing tributes to fallen members of the 42nd Regular Course who died in the line of duty, said their sacrifice is a reminder of the ideals of service and patriotism.
