Former Defence Chief Links Security Woes to Nigeria’s Prosperity and Porous Borders

A former Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim (retd.), has stated that Nigeria’s relative prosperity and porous borders are significant factors fueling the country’s ongoing security challenges, exposing it to external and internal threats.

Admiral Ibrahim made these remarks on Saturday night during the reunion dinner of the 42nd Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy held in Abuja.

He argued that Nigeria’s economic potential makes it a target for external actors, despite the daily hardships faced by its citizens.

“One of our sins is that Nigeria is prosperous. You know what prosperity does to a nation? It invites many things in. And our borders are very porous. We are paying the price for being prosperous,” Ibrahim said.

He cautioned that predictions from a decade ago about Nigeria’s potential disintegration remain a present danger, with certain forces still actively working towards that goal. “Those people are still at war… They want to make this country disintegrate,” he warned.

Describing the current climate as “turbulence,” the former military chief expressed confidence that his generation of officers was specifically trained to manage such large-scale national challenges.

Ibrahim also reflected on his tenure, highlighting the creation of new military divisions in the North-West and North-East as a key reform to better handle the security situation, moving beyond joint task forces.

He urged continued unity and professional collaboration among senior officers, asserting, “Not one person can do it alone. Apart from NDA uniting all of us, we have no other country but Nigeria.”

In his welcome address, the President of the 42nd Regular Course, Maj. Gen. Folusho Oyinlola, described the event as a time for reflection, celebration, and renewed commitment, paying tribute to fallen colleagues.

The former CDS concluded by urging vigilance, noting that while predictions of disintegration have not yet materialized, the underlying threats remain active.