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Nigerian Defence Minister Christopher Musa has said the country is not immune to global instability, citing the fallout from the Libya crisis, the escalating Sahel security situation, and the growing threat of terrorism as factors contributing to Nigeria’s security challenges.
In an interview with News Central, Musa said the world had become more turbulent despite advancements in technology, pointing to ongoing conflicts including the Russia-Ukraine war and the Iran-Israel confrontation.
“The Sahel is so hot now. The terrorists are hell-bent on ensuring that they bring in instability within the region. That is also flowing into Nigeria. So Nigeria is not immune from such things,” Musa said.
He traced the origins of the current crisis to the fall of Libya, which he said had destabilised the broader Sahel region and created conditions for terrorism to spread.
“Since the fall of Libya, the Sahel has been there, and Nigeria has had that effect,” he said.
The minister also cited Nigeria’s vast mineral resources as a factor attracting both legitimate actors and criminal elements.
“People have this general belief that Nigeria is a very rich country because of the mineral resources and everything that we have. So the tendency is that it attracts a lot of the good, the bad, and the ugly, coming in to take their own share of this so-called cake within the country,” he said.
“The Sahel is so hot now. The terrorists are hell-bent on ensuring that they bring instability within the region. That is also flowing into Nigeria.”
Minister of Defence Christopher Musa says Nigeria must strengthen its response to regional and domestic security threats.
Full… pic.twitter.com/gk8iiGQ7Z3
— News Central TV (@NewsCentralTV) July 10, 2026
On the domestic front, Musa said security challenges often spike in election years, noting that 2024 had recorded the lowest level of incidents before a resurgence in 2025.
“From the results of 2024, it was our best year. The results that came out, we had the lowest of everything. And suddenly when we thought everything was then 2025, and then you know the spike. So elections coming,” he said.
He warned that both internal and external actors could seek to exploit insecurity to undermine stability.
“You can’t rule out again individuals that want to show that there is insecurity in the country; it is unstable, both within and outside,” Musa said.
The minister’s remarks come as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, with security analysts warning that the twin challenges of vote buying and insecurity pose serious threats to the credibility of the polls.
