The Federal Government has announced plans to gradually withdraw the Nigerian Armed Forces from internal security operations as efforts intensify to strengthen the operational capacity of the Nigeria Police Force.
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), disclosed this on Thursday at the All Progressives Congress Abuja Roundtable in Abuja, where he acknowledged that prolonged military deployments across the country had overstretched personnel.
Musa explained that the military’s increasing involvement in internal security operations was necessary when security challenges exceeded the capacity of the police, but stressed that such deployments should not become permanent.
He said the government was supporting the police through recruitment and other capacity-building initiatives to enable them to take greater responsibility for maintaining internal security.
According to him, the armed forces would gradually withdraw from domestic security duties and return to their primary constitutional responsibilities once the police had developed sufficient capacity.
The minister expressed concern over the pressure military personnel were facing due to repeated deployments, noting that some officers spent extended periods away from their families.
He said military personnel were tired from continuous operations and deserved adequate rest after years of handling security challenges across different parts of the country.
Musa disclosed that he had recently attended a security meeting involving the Inspector-General of Police and other security officials to assess the country’s security situation and identify ways to improve policing.
He maintained that strengthening the police through recruitment and improved operational capacity would reduce the need for prolonged military involvement in internal security.
The defence minister also advocated the restoration of tollgates, describing them as important security measures that could assist in monitoring movements and improving intelligence gathering.
He further emphasised the importance of proper identity registration, arguing that effective security management requires reliable information about individuals and their movements.
The development comes amid ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to reform the country’s security architecture and improve the ability of security agencies to respond to growing threats.
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