Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, has urged the immediate strengthening of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), warning that the armed forces lack the manpower and capacity to hold liberated territories indefinitely against insurgency, banditry, and other criminal threats.
Speaking yesterday during the 2025 budget performance review and defence of the 2026 budget proposal before the National Assembly in Abuja, General Oluyede emphasized the need for a structured transition from military-led operations to civilian security agencies for long-term stability.
“The Armed Forces can clear areas, but we do not have the numbers to remain everywhere indefinitely,” he said. “If the police and civil defence are properly strengthened, they can hold and secure these areas and prevent criminal elements from re-emerging.”
He highlighted that both the NPF and NSCDC have significantly larger personnel strength and deeper community presence compared to the military, making them better suited for sustained internal security enforcement and post-conflict stabilization.
The CDS outlined ongoing and planned military responses to escalating insecurity in several regions:
– Special forces deployments are being finalized for Kwara State and parts of Niger State following recent spikes in attacks.
– A new Joint Task Force, codenamed Operation Savannah Shield, will soon be launched to cover these areas, with resources being redirected from other operational theatres.
– Additional special forces have already been deployed to Benue and Plateau states to target violent groups in the Middle Belt.
Oluyede noted significant progress in the North-East, where the security situation has improved markedly, but acknowledged persistent serious challenges in the North-West and parts of the North-Central zones.
“We are evolving modalities to address these threats within the resources available to us,” he said.
On international partnerships, the CDS confirmed that Nigeria is deepening intelligence cooperation with allied countries to address capability gaps, while ensuring all collaborations align with presidential directives and protect national sovereignty.
“Our partners have been quite helpful, particularly in intelligence. But we are careful to ensure these collaborations align with the directives of Mr President and do not compromise Nigeria’s sovereignty,” he added.
The call for police and civil defence reform comes amid growing recognition that military operations, while effective in clearing criminal enclaves, require robust follow-up by civilian agencies to prevent re-infiltration and maintain peace in cleared communities. General Oluyede’s remarks underscore the strategic urgency of building a more balanced, multi-agency national security architecture to achieve lasting stability across Nigeria.
