The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, has called on Nigerians to take an active role in securing the country, stressing that national security and democracy cannot be sustained by government and security agencies alone.
He said this collective responsibility is essential because no nation can maintain peace and stability without the active participation of its citizens, adding that security is not limited to military operations but is rooted in the actions, awareness, and cooperation of the people.
The general stated during his Democracy speech on Friday, at the Platform programme in Ikeja, Lagos, where he noted that democracy does not sustain itself automatically, adding that it requires strong institutions, responsible leadership, active citizenship, and effective security.
He said the survival of democracy depends on the courage and determination of citizens who believe their voices matter and are committed to shaping the future of the country through democratic means.
“No democracy can flourish where fear dominates daily life, where violence disrupts communities, and where citizens lose confidence in the ability of the state to protect them,” he said.
He stressed that democracy itself requires deliberate effort to sustain, adding that “democracy does not sustain itself automatically. It is humans who must make it work through strong institutions, responsible leadership, active citizenship, and effective security.”
According to the Defence Minister, true national security goes beyond military operations, saying it is anchored on defeating ignorance, restoring hope, and building citizens’ confidence in the future.
Musa said contemporary security challenges facing Nigeria have evolved to include terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, arms trafficking, cyber threats, and misinformation, which increasingly threaten national stability.
He added that modern threats are adaptive and often supported by transnational networks, making it necessary for Nigeria to adopt intelligence-driven, technology-based, and collaborative security strategies.
The Gen also acknowledged the efforts of the armed forces in combating insecurity, noting that many personnel have paid the ultimate price in the line of duty.
However, he stressed that military force alone is not sufficient, as lasting security depends on cooperation between citizens and institutions.
“Military force alone is no longer sufficient in today’s security environment. Modern security requires intelligence, technology, institutional coordination, regional cooperation, and above all, national resilience,” Musa added.
He urged Nigerians to support security agencies by providing timely information and rejecting misinformation and narratives that seek to divide the country along ethnic or religious lines.
The minister further warned against the spread of false information on social media, saying it is increasingly being used to distort facts, create fear, and weaken national unity.
Gen Musa also appealed to young people to see themselves as key stakeholders in protecting democracy, reminding them that the generation before them fought to secure it.
He said the responsibility of the current generation is to strengthen and sustain democracy, ensuring it is passed on in a better form to future generations.
The Defence Minister further called for unity, patriotism, and collective effort, stressing that every citizen has a role to play in building a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.