Hunger, poverty a major drivers of insecurity and instability in Nigeria – Ribadu, CDS

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, have warned that hunger and poverty are no longer just socio-economic issues but have become major drivers of insecurity and instability across Nigeria.

Their remarks came during the 14th National Security Seminar held in Abuja, organised by the Alumni Association of the National Defence College. The event coincided with President Bola Tinubu’s commissioning of 2,000 tractors under the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme, aimed at boosting food production and revamping Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

Represented by Major General PP Mala, Ribadu said the theme of the seminar, “Combating Hunger and Poverty for Sustainable Peace and Development in Nigeria”, strikes at the core of the nation’s pressing challenges. He emphasised that poverty and hunger serve as enablers of violence, criminality, and social fragmentation, forming a vicious cycle that perpetuates insecurity.

“These issues are not isolated social problems. They fuel crime, conflict and societal breakdown. President Tinubu’s administration is confronting this head-on through agricultural reforms, social intervention programmes, and improved security coordination,” he stated.

Ribadu noted that tangible efforts are being made through better law enforcement, investment in food security, and improved infrastructure to support agricultural productivity and distribution. He added that the Office of the National Security Adviser continues to lead a coordinated response involving both military and non-military strategies to address these interconnected threats.

Despite progress, he acknowledged that persistent challenges like youth unemployment and disenfranchisement require deeper, long-term policy and community-based solutions. “Our response must be inclusive, innovative and sustainable,” he said.

In his address, the CDS, General Musa — represented by Rear Admiral Ibrahim Shettima — echoed similar sentiments, stressing that hunger and poverty have morphed into full-blown national security threats. He highlighted the situation in Benue State, Nigeria’s traditional food basket, where conflicts and insecurity have crippled agriculture and displaced entire communities.

“Insecurity is no longer defined solely by armed violence. Economic deprivation and food insecurity are destabilising forces,” he warned, citing how land conflicts and displacement have worsened food inflation and migration, undermining national cohesion.

General Musa called for a renewed national strategy focused on grassroots agricultural development and making farming attractive to the younger population. “We must reposition agriculture as a respected and rewarding vocation,” he said, urging the government to invest in credit access, rural infrastructure and market linkages.

He praised President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly efforts to empower local governments as drivers of development, and reaffirmed the military’s commitment to restoring peace across the country.

Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammad Badaru Abubakar, also addressed the seminar and called for a more human-focused approach to security. He stressed the need to tackle root causes like joblessness, exclusion, and poverty, noting that traditional military solutions alone are no longer sufficient.

“Peace and security in today’s world demand a broader, human-centred strategy. Only by addressing the underlying socio-economic triggers can we build a stable and prosperous society,” Badaru said.

He affirmed that the administration’s policies — including in agriculture, vocational training, and social welfare — are already making an impact, but emphasized that sustained, coordinated efforts remain crucial to ensuring peace and long-term national development.