The Minister of Defence, Retired General Christopher Musa, and the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Friday held talks aimed at improving security coordination and enhancing public safety across Nigeria.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the meeting took place during a courtesy visit by the Defence Minister to Tunji-Ojo’s office in Abuja.
Welcoming his counterpart, Tunji-Ojo thanked Musa for the visit and acknowledged the confidence reposed in him by President Bola Tinubu, noting that the engagement underscored the importance of collaboration among security agencies.
“This visit reflects your commitment to deploying your experience and reinforces the need for effective synergy between internal and external security agencies,” he said.
Tunji-Ojo stressed that national security requires a balanced approach, adding that effective performance by internal security agencies would reduce pressure on the military.
“We share a common vision. Security is both internal and external. If internal agencies do their job well, the military will not be overstretched,” he said.
He warned against inter-agency rivalry, urging cooperation rather than silence or competition, especially at a critical time for the country.
The Interior Minister also noted that while Nigeria faces serious security challenges, exaggerated perceptions could worsen the situation.
“A secure border is a secure nation. If our borders are not protected, national security cannot be guaranteed,” he said.
Tunji-Ojo reiterated that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) should focus strictly on its statutory mandate, rather than duplicating the roles of the Police or the military.
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“We are not in competition with any agency. Our role is to complement existing efforts and strengthen collaboration,” he added.
He further highlighted the importance of effective data management and proposed the establishment of an inter-ministerial committee to foster closer integration between the Ministries of Defence and Interior.
“We must remove silos and focus on what Nigerians care about—results and safety. Bridging communication gaps is essential,” he said, urging paramilitary agencies to deepen cooperation with sister institutions.
In his remarks, Musa commended the Ministry of Interior for its role in safeguarding internal security, describing security as a critical foundation for national development.
“Without security, there can be no meaningful progress,” he said, emphasizing that no single agency possesses all the information required to tackle security threats.
He expressed confidence that sustained collaboration between security institutions would yield significant results.
“If we continue to work together, we will record meaningful success,” the Defence Minister said.
