Dare Babalola
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen.Tukur Buratai (retd.) has made a call for a comprehensive review of the security sector to address the root causes of insecurity in Nigeria.
Speaking on Channels Television on Friday, Buratai said the military is just one aspect of the overall state function, and a multifaceted approach is needed to tackle the issue of insecurity.
“The military is just one aspect of the overall state function or national activity. We have the economic line, the social line, and the political line, which is very important. From all indications, the political will is there, and resources have been allocated for security,” the security expert says.
However, he emphasised that relying solely on the military to solve security challenges is not enough.
“There’s an underlying cause that started within society, fueled by some political actors,” the former CoAS noted. “This insecurity is essentially a political issue, now left to the military and political actors behind the scenes.”
He called for a total review of the security aspect, taking into account political involvement and associations.
He said, “We cannot continuously see the military as the problem in solving insecurity; they are part of the solution. They will play their role well if they have good support from the entire system.”
Buratai added that the issue has been a persistent problem, spanning two to three governments, stressing that a new approach is needed to address the root causes of insecurity.
“By working together and adopting a holistic approach, Nigeria can make progress in ensuring the safety and security of its citizens,” he said.
