Retired Nigerian Army General Ishola Williams has urged major reforms in Nigeria’s security leadership and intelligence apparatus, citing ongoing insurgent attacks as evidence of systemic weaknesses.
Williams, who once served as Commandant of the Training and Doctrine Command and represented Transparency International in Nigeria, spoke during a Channels Television interview on Sunday, March 15, 2026.
Asked what steps President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should take to address the nation’s security challenges, Williams called for the immediate dismissal of the National Security Adviser (NSA). He emphasized that the role requires someone with strategic training and international defence exposure, something he says the current officeholder lacks. “The present one does not. And the Americans know. They know,” he stated, highlighting that foreign defence institutions track the training and capabilities of Nigerian officers.
The retired general also criticized Nigeria’s intelligence and counterintelligence systems, describing them as ineffective. He questioned how insurgent groups like Boko Haram could attack military facilities multiple times within days, suggesting that the intelligence network has failed.
Williams pointed out the multiplicity of intelligence agencies in Nigeria, including the Defense Intelligence Agency, service-specific intelligence units, the DSS (formerly SSS), and the National Intelligence Agency, among others. He noted that intelligence departments also exist within the police, customs, immigration, and civil defense, operating down to the local government level. “What are they doing?” he asked, highlighting the need for coordination and accountability across the security sector.
The retired general’s comments underscore growing concerns about Nigeria’s preparedness against insurgency and the urgent need for strategic reforms in both leadership and intelligence operations.
