Abuja: The Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Christopher Musa, has called on Nigeria’s intelligence agencies to enhance collaboration to improve operational effectiveness. Musa made the call at a meeting with members of the intelligence community on Thursday in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, actionable intelligence is critical to enabling troops to react promptly and decisively, as emphasized by the minister. He noted that while the agencies have been performing effectively, much of their work has been carried out in silos. It was time to integrate those efforts so that all actions would be coordinated and impactful.
The minister further stated that President Bola Tinubu has directed the enhancement of collaboration in all operations. ‘Every service and agency is important; none is irrelevant. We must bring this understanding to bear as professionals,’ he asserted.
Highlighting the nature of asymmetric warfare, Musa explained that threats are often unidentified, unlike conventional warfare, adding that the enemy might be close. He urged the agencies to harness all available intelligence, including human, technical, and public inputs, to strengthen national security.
Musa emphasized the importance of enhancing human intelligence and encouraging citizens to report relevant information promptly. ‘When agencies work together, our operational impact multiplies significantly. Together we will ensure better collaboration, improve intelligence application, and enhance protection for our country and its citizens,’ he said.
The minister also acknowledged the challenging nature of intelligence work, stating that often the agencies do not receive the accolades they deserve. He assured that the ministry would continue to support and enhance their capacity. The meeting, described by the minister as a ‘new beginning,’ brought together intelligence agencies under one roof for the first time at the ministry.
In attendance at the meeting were the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lt.-Gen. Emmanuel Undiandeye, the intelligence heads of the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force, as well as representatives from other security and paramilitary agencies.