Interior, Defence Ministries Strengthen Partnership on National Security
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to a stronger and more coordinated national security framework, as the Ministries of Interior and Defence pledged deeper collaboration to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, gave the assurance on Friday in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd.), where both ministers emphasized the need for sustained inter-ministerial cooperation.
Tunji-Ojo thanked the Defence Minister for the visit and commended the confidence reposed in him by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He described Nigeria’s national security architecture as a “tripod of intelligence, internal security and defence,” warning that weakness in any of the three pillars could undermine the entire system.
“Our national security architecture stands on a tripod of intelligence, internal security and defence. If one leg is weak, the entire structure is threatened,” he said.
The Interior Minister cautioned against rivalry and territorialism among security institutions, stressing that Nigerians were more concerned about safety and effective performance than ministerial boundaries. He identified border security as a critical area requiring closer collaboration, particularly through the Nigerian Immigration Service, noting that no nation could guarantee the safety of its citizens without securing its borders.
Tunji-Ojo also clarified the mandate of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), stating that it was not intended to be a “police version 2.0” but a specialized agency tasked with protecting critical national assets. These include schools, oil and gas facilities, solid minerals, telecommunications and power infrastructure.
He described attacks on such assets as acts of “economic terrorism,” adding that their protection required military-grade training and close cooperation with the armed forces. He further commended senior officials, heads of security agencies and directors from both ministries for their behind-the-scenes contributions to national security and stability.
In his remarks, the Minister of Defence, General Musa, praised Tunji-Ojo for what he described as impactful leadership and notable reforms across agencies under the Ministry of Interior, including the Nigerian Immigration Service, NSCDC, Nigerian Correctional Service and the Federal Fire Service.
Musa called for deeper synergy between the two ministries, noting that Nigeria’s internal security challenges could only be effectively addressed through seamless collaboration and shared responsibility. He described the Ministries of Defence and Interior as “two sides of the same national security coin,” observing that the distinction between internal and external security had become increasingly blurred by asymmetric threats such as terrorism, insurgency, banditry and cross-border crimes.
“No single agency or ministry can address these challenges in isolation,” Musa said, stressing the need for intelligence-driven, whole-of-government responses.
He proposed stronger intelligence collaboration through a joint intelligence fusion framework involving the Defence Intelligence Agency and interior agencies such as the Nigerian Immigration Service, NSCDC and the Nigerian Correctional Service. He also advocated the use of secure technology platforms for real-time information sharing, regular joint simulations and tabletop exercises, as well as clear protocols for joint operations to reduce friction and maximise resources.
The Defence Minister assured that his ministry would continue to support capacity-building for internal security agencies through specialised training in counterterrorism, intelligence gathering and crisis response, alongside logistical and technical support where necessary.
In his response, Tunji-Ojo agreed that weak internal security architecture inevitably overstretches the military, noting that effective internal security agencies would allow the armed forces to focus on their core defence mandate.
Both ministers underscored the importance of integrated data management, stressing that databases managed by the Ministry of Interior should serve as critical inputs for defence planning and national security decision-making.
They also agreed to activate an inter-ministerial technical committee to meet regularly, review progress, address bottlenecks and institutionalise cooperation at both strategic and operational levels.
Expressing confidence in the outcome of the engagement, both ministers said sustained collaboration between their ministries would enhance national security, boost public confidence and deliver a safer Nigeria.
“We must do things differently. Working together is the only way Nigeria can win,” Musa said.
