The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), has stressed that a strong partnership and shared sense of responsibility between the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the Ministry of Defence, and the Ministry of Interior is vital to the country’s security, safety, and overall development. He made this known during a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Interior in Abuja on Friday, January 16, 2026.
According to the Minister, the Ministries of Defence and Interior are essentially two sides of the same coin, with responsibility for the nation’s external and internal security. He noted that their roles are now more closely linked than ever, given modern security threats such as terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and cross-border crimes. He emphasized that without a secure environment, sustainable national development cannot be achieved.
General Musa further highlighted the need for close collaboration, effective intelligence sharing, joint operations, and coordinated responses among the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Nigerian Correctional Service, and other security agencies. He acknowledged that no single institution can tackle Nigeria’s complex security challenges alone, making cooperation and partnership indispensable.
He revealed that ongoing efforts are focused on strengthening border management, safeguarding critical national assets and infrastructure, and institutionalising structured cooperation through inter-ministerial and inter-agency frameworks. He added that capacity building, joint training, and the deployment of technology for real-time situational awareness remain key priorities.
Reaffirming his commitment, the Defence Minister assured Nigerians that the Defence establishment will continue to work closely with the Ministry of Interior and other relevant stakeholders to build a stronger, more responsive, and unified national security architecture that promotes peace, stability, and public confidence.
Thank you for visiting The Vestigator, don't forget to share!
Responding, the Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, explained that national security is built on both internal and external efforts. He noted that when internal security agencies are effective and well-prepared, the military is better positioned to focus on its core responsibilities. According to him, Nigeria’s security framework rests on three key pillars: intelligence, internal security, and the military, with intelligence playing a critical role.
He described the Ministries of Defence and Interior as “Siamese twins,” stressing that their responsibilities are closely linked and that they must work hand in hand to achieve lasting security. Dr. Tunji-Ojo emphasized that a nation’s safety is directly tied to the security of its borders, pointing out that no country can truly protect its citizens if its borders are left vulnerable.
He further underscored that strong and effective border management is essential to national security, peace, and stability, adding that this can only be achieved through sustained cooperation between internal security agencies and the Ministry of Defence.
The Minister also congratulated the Honourable Minister of Defence on his appointment, reaffirming his commitment to close collaboration in strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture. He expressed confidence that both ministries would enjoy a productive and effective working relationship going forward.
— Enderline Chukwu
DD Information and Public Relations
For: Director, Information and Public Relations
