National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, revealed on Friday that insecurity has impacted at least 150 million Nigerians.
He made this disclosure in Abuja during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).
The agreement is designed to enhance agribusiness and provide livelihood support to communities affected by terrorism and violent extremism.
Ribadu emphasized that insecurity has devastated Nigeria’s agricultural sector, which remains the backbone of the country’s economy, especially for rural communities.
“Insecurity is the biggest problem we are facing across all sectors, but agriculture has suffered the most,” Ribadu stated.
He highlighted that most Nigerians are either farmers or come from farming families, making the widespread insecurity an existential threat to the livelihoods of millions.
Ribadu went on to say that insecurity had disrupted the lives of Nigerians, adding, “When insecurity entered, it interfered with our lives. It has turned our lives upside down. We must come together to restore normalcy to our people.”
The NSA pointed out that insecurity now affects an overwhelming portion of the Nigerian population, estimating that over 120 million to 150 million people have been impacted.
He also called for a concerted societal effort to address the root causes of insecurity, such as poverty, lack of opportunities, and social exclusion.
The threat of insecurity to national stability was further underscored by Ribadu, who warned that the collapse of neighboring countries in the Sahel due to insurgencies could potentially extend into Nigeria.
“We are the only ones still standing strong in the Sahel, and that is thanks to the efforts of our security forces. But we are in difficulty,” he said.
In his remarks, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Muktar Maiha, stressed the importance of shifting focus from military operations to agricultural development in rural areas.
He urged the government to prioritize agriculture over military hardware, advocating for “replacing armoured tanks with tractors” and “machine guns with milking machines.”
Maiha argued that productive engagement in agriculture could serve as a deterrent to youths susceptible to recruitment by insurgent groups.
He added, “Once people are productively engaged, they will not be available for recruitment, no matter the enticement.”
Both Ribadu and Maiha’s calls reflect a broader consensus that sustainable peace in Nigeria hinges not only on military operations but also on addressing the socio-economic factors that fuel insecurity.
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