Abuja – Nigeria remains under threat from forces seeking to weaken its unity and exploit its resources, retired Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Ibrahim, has warned. Speaking at the reunion of the 42nd Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Abuja, Ibrahim said the country’s security challenges are neither accidental nor inevitable.
“The insecurity we see in Nigeria today is not by chance. Our resources, porous borders, and deep internal divisions have made us vulnerable to both external and internal threats,” he said.
Admiral Ibrahim cautioned that Nigeria’s economic potential and size continue to attract people who want to benefit from the country without contributing to its growth. He noted that while many Nigerians may not feel prosperous, outsiders view the nation as a land of opportunity.
“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,” he explained. “If you live in Nigeria for too long, you may not be able to swear that we are prosperous. But people who see us from outside believe they can come and harvest where they never sowed.”
The former defence chief also expressed concern over internal efforts aimed at eroding Nigeria’s identity. “There are people out there who are strategic and who never want this country to bear a name at all,” he said, recalling past predictions that the nation could collapse. “Remember, some people thought this country would disintegrate almost 10 years ago. Those people are still at war.”
Admiral Ibrahim described the current security crisis as turbulence that requires collective action and unity within the armed forces and the country at large. Addressing the NDA officers, he said their training prepared them for these challenging times.
“Your generation was prepared for the turbulence that defined this country today. I am sure you have served in positions managing the kind of challenges that have tried to consume the essence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
He stressed that national security cannot be the work of a single individual, calling for stronger cooperation among military leaders. “Not one person can do it alone. Apart from NDA uniting all of us, we have no other country but Nigeria,” he added.
Reflecting on his tenure as Chief of Defence Staff from 2012 to 2014, Ibrahim highlighted his role in restructuring military operations in troubled regions. “I am glad that we created the division in the North West and the North East, because a joint task force could not efficiently manage the challenges we faced. The scale of insecurity required permanent military divisions,” he said.
Major General Folusho Oyinlola, President of the 42nd Regular Course, described the reunion as a time for reflection and renewed commitment to service. He urged officers to remain united, support one another, and uphold the values formed during their training at the NDA.
“Though our postings and ranks may differ, the bond of discipline, sacrifice, and shared values should keep us united,” Oyinlola said.
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