Nigeria’s Security Depends on Empowering Youths — Gen. Buratai

Nigeria’s Security Depends on Empowering Youths — Gen. Buratai

By Auwal Ahmad Umar

Former Chief of Army Staff Lt-Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai (rtd), has warned that Nigeria’s security and future stability may remain under threat unless the country deliberately invests in and empowers its youthful population.

the Gen. Buratai stated that at University of Ilorin while delivering a lecture  with titled “The Armed Forces of Nigeria and National Security: The Youth and National Security Aspirations”, Buratai said the intersection between youth development and national security has become critical to Nigeria’s survival amid rising insecurity across different parts of the country.

Quoting former United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the retired military officer said, “A nation’s security is only as strong as its commitment to its young people.”

He noted that insurgency, terrorism, cybercrime, separatist agitation, banditry, and organised criminal activities continue to challenge Nigeria’s unity and development, stressing that the country’s youthful population remains both its greatest strength and potential vulnerability.

“If neglected, this same demographic could become our greatest vulnerability. How effectively government at all levels and the Armed Forces engage, empower and integrate youths into national security frameworks will determine Nigeria’s trajectory towards stability or turmoil,” Buratai said.

The former army chief explained that the Armed Forces of Nigeria have evolved from a small colonial constabulary established in 1863 into a major institution responsible for defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Africa’s most populous nation.

According to him, the changing nature of security threats now requires a broader understanding of national security beyond military operations alone.

“Today, national security extends beyond merely defending territorial borders.” Cybersecurity, economic stability, climate risks, and intelligence coordination have become central to the survival of modern nations,” he stated.

Buratai observed that more than 60 per cent of Nigeria’s population falls within the youth category, making it necessary for government and security institutions to harness their creativity, patriotism, and innovation for national development.

He said frustrated youths often become targets for recruitment by criminal and extremist groups, while empowered youths could serve as defenders of peace, unity, and national stability.

The retired general also reviewed the historical role of the Armed Forces in the Nigerian Civil War, peacekeeping missions across Africa, and ongoing counter-insurgency operations within the country.

He identified Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgency in the North-East, banditry and mass kidnappings in the North-West and North-Central, separatist violence in the South-East, and oil theft in the South-South as major security concerns confronting Nigeria.

Buratai further warned that growing instability across the Sahel region, particularly in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, has compounded Nigeria’s security challenges.

Drawing lessons from Colombia and Sri Lanka, he recommended a blend of military action, socio-economic reforms, intelligence-sharing, and community engagement as the most effective strategy for tackling insecurity.

“Military force alone cannot defeat an ideology. Nigeria must combine security operations with development, justice, inclusion, and opportunities for young people,” he said.

The former army chief proposed the recruitment of 50,000 youths annually into the Armed Forces over the next five years, the establishment of state intelligence centers for information sharing, and the introduction of civic security training for tertiary institution graduates.

He also advocated the creation of a Security Trust Fund to support military equipment procurement, personnel welfare, and youth employment within the security sector.

Buratai urged young Nigerians to see military service as a patriotic and noble responsibility.

“The country needs your brains, your strength and your courage. Nigeria’s security is a national project that requires the participation of every citizen, especially the youth,” he added.