June 12: Real Security Lies in Defeating Ignorance, Hopelessness – Defence Minister
By Chimezie Godfrey
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), OFR, has said that sustainable national security cannot be achieved through military force alone but through defeating ignorance, overcoming hopelessness and safeguarding democratic values.
Musa stated this on Friday while speaking at the June 12 Special Edition of The Platform Nigeria, where he paid tribute to the sacrifices of Nigerians who fought for democracy and stressed the need for a technology-driven approach to contemporary security challenges.
Delivering a presentation titled “Securing Our Nation,” the Minister noted that economic development and prosperity can only thrive in an environment where security is guaranteed.
According to him, “When we speak of national defence, the instinct is to focus on boots on the ground, air power, or intelligence gathering.
“But true and lasting security is anchored on one critical element: the defeat of ignorance and the conquest of hopelessness. No democracy can flourish where fear dominates daily life.”
The Defence Minister gave an overview of the nation’s security landscape, highlighting successes recorded by the Armed Forces of Nigeria, including the neutralisation of high-profile terrorist leaders and the dismantling of major criminal networks across different theatres of operation.
He, however, cautioned that emerging threats such as banditry, kidnapping, cybercrime and transnational violent extremism continue to evolve and adapt, posing complex challenges to national security.
Musa observed that criminal groups increasingly exploit digital platforms and social media to spread misinformation, deepen social divisions and undermine national cohesion.
He therefore called for a holistic national response that combines military efforts with education, innovation, economic opportunities and democratic governance.
The 2026 edition of The Platform Nigeria was themed, “Governance, Democracy and National Security.”
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