The Chief of Defence Staff says strengthening of the Police and NSCDC is a must to sustain military gains against insecurity
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, has called for the urgent strengthening of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to consolidate gains made by the Armed Forces in the fight against insurgency and banditry across the country.
Oluyede made the call on Tuesday during the 2025 budget appraisal and defence of the 2026 budget proposal at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
He said the police and civil defence, which have larger personnel strength and wider community presence than the Armed Forces, must be adequately equipped to take over and secure areas already cleared of criminal elements by the military.
“If these institutions are strengthened, they can effectively hold and secure territories where the Armed Forces have succeeded, ensuring that such areas remain safe,” the CDS said.
Giving an overview of the nation’s security situation, Oluyede disclosed that arrangements had been concluded to deploy special forces to Kwara state and parts of Niger state in response to the recent surge in insecurity. He stressed, however, that the Armed Forces alone could not resolve the country’s security challenges.
He assured Nigerians that renewed efforts were underway to tackle persistent security threats in the middle belt, particularly in Benue and Plateau states, with troops taking the fight directly to insurgents’ hideouts.
“We are doing everything within our capacity to ensure that Nigeria becomes safer,” Oluyede said. “The situation has improved significantly in the north-east. In the north-west, we still face serious challenges, and the same applies to parts of the north-central, including Benue, Plateau and even Kwara. But we are evolving modalities to address these challenges within the resources available to us.”
The CDS revealed that additional special forces had been deployed to Benue and Plateau, while a new Joint Task Force, code-named “Operation Savannah Shield”, would soon be inaugurated to cover Kwara and parts of Niger state.
“We are pulling resources from other theatres to strengthen this operation and ensure improved security in the area,” he added.
Oluyede also disclosed that Nigeria was collaborating with some allied countries to bridge gaps in intelligence gathering, noting that such partnerships were being carefully managed to protect the country’s sovereignty.
“Our partners have been quite helpful, particularly in intelligence. But we are careful to streamline these collaborations in line with the guidelines of Mr President to ensure that Nigeria’s sovereignty is not compromised,” he said.
He emphasised that the Armed Forces lack the manpower to be deployed everywhere simultaneously, noting that the continuous redeployment of troops across different theatres has placed significant strain on personnel.
“The soldiers hardly have rest because we don’t have the numbers. Recruiting more personnel comes with challenges such as housing, logistics and welfare. That is why strengthening the police and civil defence is critical. They have more men and better reach to fill the gaps after military operations,” Oluyede said.
Earlier, the Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Rep. Babajimi Benson (APC, Lagos), said Nigeria’s evolving security challenges could not be addressed through kinetic approaches alone.
While commending the Armed Forces and other security agencies for the gains recorded so far, Benson stressed that sustainable peace required complementary non-kinetic strategies.
“The defence and security sector occupies a central place in Nigeria’s development discourse. No nation can make sustainable progress without guaranteeing the safety of lives, property and critical national assets,” he said.
He noted that persistent security threats highlighted the need for deeper institutional reforms, improved inter-agency coordination and smarter deployment of limited resources.
According to him, increased budgetary allocations must be matched with measurable outcomes, value for money, transparency and accountability.
“The era of input-focused budgeting without commensurate impact is no longer acceptable. Nigerians expect results that translate into safer communities, restored livelihoods and renewed confidence in the authority of the state,” Rep. Benson said.
He advocated a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to security, calling for investments in strategic communication, community peacebuilding, defence intelligence infrastructure, cyber defence, border security technology, police reforms and inter-agency data fusion centres.
Benson said the 2026 budget proposals must demonstrate a clear balance between military strength and tools for sustainable peace.
He reaffirmed the House of Representatives’ commitment to peace, unity and national security, pledging the Committee’s support for initiatives aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s defence architecture through local defence production, research and development, improved personnel welfare and modernisation driven by efficiency, transparency and innovation.
He added that the 2026 budget must be aligned with Nigeria’s national security priorities and ongoing reforms in the defence sector, insisting that submissions before the committee must be realistic, well-justified and performance-driven.
Benson said the committee would focus on issues of personnel welfare, training and capacity development, equipment maintenance and modernisation, intelligence capabilities, logistics support and the sustainability of ongoing military operations.
“Recurring issues such as abandoned projects, procurement inefficiencies and delays in budget implementation must be decisively addressed,” he said.
He reiterated that oversight remained a core constitutional responsibility of the House Committee on Defence, stressing that funds appropriated by the National Assembly are public resources that must be judiciously utilised.
“Appropriations approved by the National Assembly are public funds, and we will continue to track their utilisation to ensure strict compliance with the Appropriation Act and extant financial regulations,” Rep. Benson said.
According to him, accountability should not be seen as punitive but as a shared responsibility that strengthens public trust and institutional credibility.
“Our oversight is not an obstacle but a catalyst for efficiency and effectiveness. We stand ready to advocate for the resources the Armed Forces genuinely require to succeed. However, this partnership is predicated on mutual transparency, a shared vision and an unyielding commitment to measurable results,” he added.
Benson reaffirmed the House’s commitment to national unity and security, noting that the budget defence session should be seen as an opportunity to recalibrate Nigeria’s approach to security and safeguard the country’s future.
Meanwhile during a session with the Minister of Defence Gen. Christopher Musa rtd, the Committee Chairman Rep. Benson commended him for his effort so far especially having transitioned from being the Chief of Defence Staff and now the Minister of the Defence ministry.
Benson asked the minister to take a bow and go saying the committee had previously conducted oversight on the ministry and was up-to-date with the performance of the defence ministry.
