The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, yesterday appealed to the government to strengthen the police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to consolidate gains recorded by the armed forces in the fight against terrorism and banditry.

He made the call during the 2025 budget appraisal and defence of the 2026 budget proposal at the National Assembly.

Also speaking at the event, the Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson, said the security challenges facing the country could not be addressed through kinetic approaches alone. According to Benson, poverty, youth unemployment, illiteracy, weak local governance, and ideological radicalisation have continued to fuel insecurity.

Oluyede said the police and NSCDC, which have wider community reach than the military, must be adequately equipped to take over and secure areas already cleared of criminals by the military. The CDS said: “If these institutions are strengthened, they can effectively hold and secure territories where the armed forces have succeeded, ensuring that such areas remain safe.”

According to him, the military lacks the manpower to be deployed everywhere at once. Oluyede said: “The soldiers hardly have rest because we don’t have the numbers.

“Recruiting more personnel comes with other challenges, such as housing, logistics and welfare. “That is why strengthening the police and civil defence is critical. They have more men and better reach to fill the gaps after military operations.” According to him, the persistent security threats highlight the need for deeper institutional reforms, better coordination and smarter use of limited resources.