The Chief of Army Staff, General Taoreed Lagbaja, has described as unrealistic the expectation that two million security personnel can adequately protect Nigeria’s population of over 200 million. Speaking during the 2024 Distinguished Personality Lecture in Ilorin, Kwara State, Gen. Lagbaja, represented by Chief of Army Training, Sanni Mohammed, emphasized the military’s dependence on imported defense equipment due to the country’s weak industrial base.
He revealed that over 90 percent of Nigeria’s military supplies are sourced from abroad, despite some local production efforts, and expressed concern over inadequate funding for the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN). He noted that while the AFN’s budget has improved since 2017, economic challenges have reduced the real value of allocated funds, limiting the military’s operational capabilities.
Gen. Lagbaja stressed that with an army of just over 100,000 active personnel and no reserve force, the resource gap is being exploited by criminal elements. He called for significant investments to expand and strengthen security forces and urged greater citizen involvement in national security efforts to create a more vigilant and resilient population.
The lecture, organized by the University of Ilorin’s Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies in partnership with the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre, was part of activities marking the United Nations International Day of Peace. University Vice-Chancellor Professor Wahab Egbewole also highlighted the importance of peace and security for sustainable development.
