Nigeria’s newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has admitted that the country’s armed forces lack adequate resources to effectively combat jihadist groups and other internal security threats. Speaking during his screening before the Nigerian Senate on Wednesday in Abuja, Oluyede emphasized the need to strengthen the police force and boost local arms production to reduce dependency on foreign suppliers.
“We all know that resources are not enough,” Oluyede said, acknowledging that this shortage makes it “very difficult to prosecute the war against terrorism and banditry.” His comments come as Nigeria continues to battle multiple security challenges across its regions from jihadist insurgencies in the northeast to violent bandit groups in the northwest and separatist tensions in the southeast.
Oluyede, who replaces General Christopher Musa following President Bola Tinubu’s recent military reshuffle, argued that many of the internal security tasks currently handled by the army should fall under the police. He urged the government to “empower the police, make it stronger and more formidable” so that the military can focus on defending Nigeria against external aggression.
Nigeria has been fighting Islamist insurgents since Boko Haram’s uprising in 2009, a conflict that has since evolved with the rise of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Although the intensity of violence has reduced since its peak, attacks persist in remote areas where state presence remains weak.
The new defence chief also stressed the importance of investing in local arms manufacturing to cut costs and improve self-reliance. In August, the United States approved a $346 million weapons sale to Nigeria, while China, Turkey, and Brazil remain key suppliers.
Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, the incoming Chief of Air Staff, echoed Oluyede’s concerns, noting that insurgents are increasingly using drones and sophisticated tactics. “The enemy you’re fighting went to school,” Aneke warned, urging Nigeria’s forces to adapt to a changing battlefield.
