CDS: ECOWAS protocol on free movement worsening insecurity in Nigeria

Christopher Musa, chief of defence staff (CDS), says Nigeria’s complex borders and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) protocol on free movement are worsening insecurity in the country.

Musa spoke on Friday while delivering a lecture at the Institute for Development Research and Training, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna.

The lecture was titled: ‘Assessing the Present Security Situation in Northern Nigeria’.

Speaking at the event, the CDS said Nigeria has 364 approved international border points and 1,497 illegal migration points.

“The obligation to abide by the ECOWAS protocol on free movement coupled with the nature of our border management further instigates the challenges to our nation’s security,” the CDS said.

Musa said the situation “has manifested in increased insurgency, terrorism and religious extremism, as well as the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, human and drug trafficking among others”.

He said there is a need to improve the country’s security architecture and border control to effectively monitor illegal migration.

The CDS lamented what he described as the perception of making security the sole business of law enforcement agencies.

“Currently, there is an erroneous perception of security being the responsibility of only the military,” the CDS said.

“This has greatly affected the ability to address security concerns in the north.

“Similarly, some unpatriotic citizens continue to undermine the unity and security of Nigeria.

“Until this is internalised, the security agencies which are significantly less than one percent of the population will struggle to fill the massive gaps in the security architecture.”