CDS Warns: Hunger and Poverty Now Driving Nigeria’s Insecurity Under Tinubu’s Government

Chief of Defence Staff , General Christopher Musa, has sounded an urgent alarm. The twin ills of poverty and hunger are no longer mere social issues but have surged to the forefront as national security threats. Speaking at the 14th National Security Seminar in Abuja, he emphasised that food insecurity and economic hardship now drive instability across Nigeria.

According to Gen. Musa, the crisis in Nigeria’s food basket is particularly distinct,

Once a thriving agricultural hub, Benue State now staggers under banditry, displacement, and farmer-herder clashes, all fueled by rising poverty and hunger. He warned that these factors have disrupted farming, driven up food prices, led to mass displacement, and fractured economic and social cohesion.

A staggering 63% of Nigerians, approximately 133 million people, are multidimensionally poor, meaning they lack access to basic necessities such as education, healthcare, and living standards. Acute hunger has worsened, reaching about 18% of the population in 2022, marking a steady increase since 2019 (from 13.6% in 2019 to 18% in 2022).

National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu underscored a vicious cycle,

Poverty begets insecurity, which in turn worsens deprivation, trapping communities in ongoing instability. He highlighted the Tinubu administration’s multi-layered strategy, which includes agricultural reforms and mechanisation, expanded social investment programmes, and targeted security interventions aimed at stabilising rural communities and enhancing livelihoods.

Defence Minister Muhammad Badaru added that a human-centred security approach requires addressing the root causes, including unemployment, poverty, and social exclusion.

Communities are encouraged to actively support intelligence gathering and promptly report any suspicious activity. State and local governments are called upon to revitalise agriculture by improving access to credit, infrastructure, and markets, making farming a respected and viable profession.

The alarming correlation between deprivation and insecurity is well documented. Over 17% of Nigerians experienced undernourishment in 2021, rising to 18% in 2022, indicating a persistent upward trend. The 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Index reveals that more than six in ten Nigerians suffer from overlapping deprivations in health, education, and living standards.

The WFP projects an increase in food insecurity in the second half of 2025, as ongoing crises are expected to raise the number of food-insecure Nigerians to 33 million, a significant rise from the current 25 million.

With hunger and poverty now integral to security threats, officials, including Gen. Musa, Ribadu, and Badaru, are urging a united response that combines stronger security measures with sustainable economic and social investments.

Restoring stability begins with empowering people through better agriculture, social welfare, and proactive community engagement.

Read More:

• Nigeria: Leaked DSS Memo Warned of Attacks Weeks Before Benue Killings, Cited Cow Seizure as Trigger
• Three Kenyan Officers Face Murder Charges After Assaulted Blogger Dies in Custody

About The Author

West Africa Weekly

author

See author's posts