Nigeria’s former Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Ibrahim (rtd.), has warned that powerful forces are still working to destabilise the country and push it towards disintegration.
The former Defence Chief, who noted that insecurity in Nigeria is no accident, said the nation’s resources, weak borders, and deep internal divisions have made the country a target for both external and internal threats.
Admiral Ola Ibrahim raised the alarm while speaking at the reunion of the 42nd Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy in Abuja.
Ibrahim expressed concern that the size of the country, coupled with its economic potential have continued to attract people who want to benefit from the country without contributing to its growth, explaining that many Nigerians may not feel the nation is that prosperous, while outsiders see it as a land of opportunity to exploit.
He said, “One of our sins is that Nigeria is prosperous. You know what prosperity does to a nation? It invites many things in. Besides, our borders are very porous. We are paying the price for being prosperous.”
He added that while citizens struggle daily, foreigners believe they can enter the country and take advantage of its wealth.
“If you live in Nigeria for too long, you may not be able to swear that we are prosperous. But people who see us from outside believe they can come and harvest where they never sowed. And then, there are others in our midst who are more interested in identity.”
The former defence chief also accused some groups of deliberately working to erase Nigeria’s identity as a united nation.
“There are also people out there who are strategic and who never want this country to bear a name at all.”
Ibrahim recalled earlier predictions that Nigeria would collapse as a nation, warning that those behind such an idea have not given up.
He said: “Remember, some people thought this country would disintegrate almost 10 years ago. Those people are still at war. They are still at war.
“Because you live with us every day, you can see what other people see. Are you with me? They want to make this country disintegrate.”
He described today’s security crisis as a form of turbulence that requires collective efforts and unity within the armed forces and the country at large.
Speaking on members of the 42nd Regular Course, he said they were trained for difficult times and had already served in sensitive command positions across Nigeria.
“Your generation was prepared for the turbulence that defines this country today. I am quite sure you must have been in one sector or the other, managing the kind of turbulence that has tried to consume the essence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
He warned that national security cannot be handled by individuals acting alone and called for stronger cooperation among military leaders.
“Not one person can do it alone. Apart from NDA uniting all of us, we have no other country but Nigeria.”
Ibrahim also reflected on his time as Chief of Defence Staff between 2012 and 2014, saying one of his key achievements was restructuring military operations in troubled regions.
“I am very glad that, as Chief of Defence Staff, I was at the head of the table when we created the division in the North West and the division in the North East, because we understood that a joint task force could not efficiently manage the kind of challenge we were faced with.”
He explained that the scale of insecurity at the time required permanent military divisions rather than temporary task forces.
In his remarks, President of the 42nd Regular Course, Major General Folusho Oyinlola, said the reunion was a time for reflection and renewed commitment to service.
He said the officers were bonded by sacrifice, discipline, and shared values formed during their training at the NDA.
Oyinlola urged members to maintain unity despite their different postings and ranks. He also called on them to continue supporting one another professionally and personally.
