The Federal Government has intensified efforts to enhance coordination between the Ministries of Defence and Interior as part of a broader strategy to build a more integrated and effective national security architecture capable of addressing Nigeria’s evolving threats.
This commitment was underscored at a high-level meeting in Abuja on Friday, when the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd), paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
Welcoming his guest, Tunji-Ojo reaffirmed the administration’s resolve to establish an intelligence-driven security framework anchored on close collaboration between internal and external security institutions. He described national security as a tripod resting on intelligence, internal security, and defence, warning that weakness in any component imperils the entire system.
“If one leg of this tripod is weak, the whole structure is endangered,” he said.
The Interior Minister expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing Gen. Musa and commended the Defence Minister for deploying his experience toward strengthening national security coordination. He cautioned against rivalry and institutional territorialism among security agencies, stressing that Nigerians are more concerned with safety and results than bureaucratic boundaries.
Tunji-Ojo identified border security as a critical national priority, particularly through the Nigerian Immigration Service, noting that porous borders expose the country to transnational crimes, terrorism, and illegal migration. “A safe border is a safe nation. If you cannot secure your borders, you cannot guarantee national safety,” he said.
Clarifying the mandate of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Interior Minister said the agency was not established to duplicate police functions but to serve as a specialised body responsible for protecting critical national infrastructure. He listed schools, oil and gas facilities, telecommunications, power installations, and solid mineral sites as key assets under NSCDC protection, describing attacks on such facilities as “economic terrorism.”
He called for enhanced cooperation between the NSCDC and the military, including improved training and intelligence sharing, and highlighted the need for better data management across security agencies. Tunji-Ojo also proposed the establishment of an inter-ministerial technical committee to harmonise operations between the two ministries.
“We must eliminate communication gaps, block divisions, and work as one organic security structure that delivers results for Nigerians,” he said.
In his remarks, Gen. Musa commended the Ministry of Interior for ongoing reforms and its efforts to strengthen internal security through agencies such as the Nigerian Immigration Service, NSCDC, Nigerian Correctional Service, and the Federal Fire Service. He described security as the foundation of national development, noting that “without security, there is no progress.”
The Defence Minister observed that contemporary threats—including terrorism, insurgency, banditry, and cross-border crimes—have blurred the distinction between internal and external security, making inter-agency cooperation indispensable. “No single agency has a monopoly on intelligence. We must work together, share information, and operate in synergy,” he said.
Musa proposed the creation of a joint technical security committee comprising representatives of both ministries and relevant paramilitary agencies to meet quarterly and review emerging security challenges. He also advocated the deployment of secure technology platforms to facilitate real-time intelligence sharing between the Defence Intelligence Agency and Interior agencies, including Immigration, NSCDC, and the Nigerian Correctional Service.
He assured that the Ministry of Defence would continue to support capacity-building for internal security agencies through specialised training in counterterrorism, intelligence gathering, and crisis response, adding that correctional facilities could serve as valuable intelligence sources in combating crime and insecurity.
Both ministers agreed that deeper collaboration between the Defence and Interior ministries would ease pressure on the military, enhance internal security efficiency, and ultimately contribute to a safer Nigeria.
“We must do things differently. Working together is the only way Nigeria can win,” Musa concluded.
