Armed Forces Need Support To Secure Reclaimed Areas – CDS

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, has called for urgent strengthening of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to consolidate gains made by the military against insurgency and banditry.

Speaking during a 2025 budget appraisal and 2026 budget defence session at the National Assembly, General Oluyede said the armed forces lacked the manpower to remain in territories cleared of criminal groups and needed other security agencies to take over and secure such areas.

According to him, arrangements have been concluded to deploy special forces to Kwara state and parts of Niger state following a recent surge in insecurity in those areas.

“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.

Providing 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 to address the recent surge in insecurity. He stressed, however, that the Armed Forces alone could not resolve the challenges.

He also assured Nigerians that renewed efforts were underway to tackle lingering security threats in the Middle Belt, particularly in Benue and Plateau states, by taking the fight directly to insurgents’ hideouts.

“We are doing everything within our capacity to ensure that Nigeria becomes safer,” Oluyede said. “As we speak, 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.”

He revealed that new 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 specifically cover Kwara State 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.

General Oluyede also disclosed that Nigeria was working with allied countries to strengthen intelligence gathering, adding that such partnerships were being managed carefully to protect national sovereignty.

In his opening remarks, Chairman, House Committee on Defence, Mr Babajimi Benson, while acknowledging gains made by the armed forces, said sustainable peace required non-military strategies, deeper institutional reforms and improved inter-agency coordination.

He noted that persistent security threats underscored the need for deeper institutional reforms, improved inter-agency coordination and smarter deployment of scarce resources.

According to him, increased budgetary allocations must be matched with measurable outcomes, value for money, transparency and accountability.

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 added that 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 efforts aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s defence architecture through local defence production, research and development, improved personnel welfare and modernisation anchored on efficiency, transparency and innovation.

Mr Benson said the committee would scrutinize the 2026 defence budget to ensure alignment with national security priorities, with attention to personnel welfare, equipment modernisation, intelligence capabilities and logistics support.

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji