Hunger and Poverty Now National Security Threats – NSA, Defence Chiefs Warn
Nigeria’s top security officials have raised alarm over the deepening link between rising hunger, poverty, and the country’s worsening insecurity. According to them, economic hardship is no longer just a social issue—it is now a full-blown national security threat.
At a high-level National Security Seminar held in Abuja, themed “Combating Hunger and Poverty for Sustainable Peace and Development in Nigeria,” the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, emphasized that tackling poverty is essential for restoring peace across the country. Eyes Of Lagos reports,
Poverty Fuels Crime, Violence – NSA
Represented by Maj. Gen. Peter Mala, Ribadu described hunger and poverty as the “fuel for crime, violence, and national disintegration.”
“There’s a dangerous cycle here—poverty breeds insecurity, and insecurity worsens poverty,” he noted.
Ribadu explained that the current administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is implementing strategic interventions through agricultural reforms, social investment programs, and enhanced law enforcement efforts to disrupt that cycle.
He further noted that the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) continues to coordinate both military and non-military strategies involving armed forces, intelligence agencies, civil organizations, and local communities.
CDS: Hunger Is a Weapon Against Nigeria
General Christopher Musa, represented by Rear Admiral Ibrahim Shetimma, declared that hunger and economic deprivation have become tools used by criminal elements to destabilize the nation.
“Insecurity today is not just about guns—it’s also about food insecurity, displacement, and hopelessness,” he stated.
He cited Benue State as a tragic example, where once-thriving farming communities have been destroyed by banditry and conflicts, triggering inflation and rural-urban migration.
The CDS called for urgent investment in agriculture, especially to make farming attractive to Nigerian youths again. He warned that if migration from rural to urban areas continues unchecked, national food production will collapse.
Defence Minister: Security Must Be People-Centered
Minister of Defence, Alhaji Muhammed Badaru, also spoke at the event, advocating a human-focused security strategy.
“If we do not address the root causes of insecurity—poverty, unemployment, and exclusion—we’ll only keep fighting symptoms,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to adopt a whole-of-society approach in building long-term peace, commending the Tinubu administration for prioritizing grassroots development and financial autonomy for local governments.
AANDEC: Neglecting the Poor Will Breed Crisis
Air Commodore Darlington Abdullahi (Rtd.), president of the Alumni Association of the National Defence College (AANDEC), described hunger and poverty as “strategic threats” to Nigeria’s future.
“The children of the poor you ignore today may not let your children sleep tomorrow,” he warned.
Abdullahi advocated for increased investment in education, skills training, and social inclusion, which he said are non-violent but powerful tools for national stability.
He also called for the creation of a vocational leadership development centre for widows and children of fallen military officers to support healing and empowerment.
The Bottom Line
This landmark seminar made it clear: Nigeria cannot win the war against insecurity without fighting poverty. As the security chiefs emphasized, true peace begins with full stomachs, opportunity, and dignity.
Unless deliberate steps are taken to lift millions out of poverty, insecurity may remain an ever-evolving challenge threatening the nation’s peace and unity.