The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, has identified hunger and poverty as major drivers of insecurity across Nigeria, stressing that tackling them is essential to achieving lasting peace and development.

Ribadu spoke on Monday at the National Security Seminar themed “Combating Hunger and Poverty for Sustainable Peace and Development in Nigeria,” organised by the Alumni Association of the National Defence College in Abuja.

Represented by the Director of Defence Affairs at the Office of the NSA, Major General Peter Mala, Ribadu said, “Hunger and poverty are not merely social concerns; they are catalysts for insecurity, crime, violence, and social disintegration.

“These issues form a vicious cycle — poverty leads to insecurity, and insecurity, in turn, deepens poverty.”

He noted that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has prioritised agricultural reforms, social investment programmes, and security sector interventions aimed at breaking the cycle.

These, he said, include support for food security initiatives, enhanced law enforcement, and infrastructure development to boost agricultural production and distribution.

Ribadu added that the Office of the NSA continues to coordinate both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches involving the military, intelligence services, security agencies, and civil actors to confront the security crisis.

“Despite progress, challenges like unemployment, hunger, and youth disenfranchisement persist and require deeper, long-term solutions,” he said.

He called for coordinated, inclusive, and forward-thinking responses.

Echoing Ribadu’s warning, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, said hunger and poverty have evolved from social concerns into full-blown national security threats.

Represented by the Chief of Defence Training, Rear Admiral Ibrahim Shetimma, Musa called for a national approach to addressing their impact on internal security.

He said, “Insecurity today is not only defined by weapons but also by economic deprivation, food insecurity, and social dislocation.

“The North Central region, particularly Benue State, once known as Nigeria’s food basket, has been devastated by banditry, displacement, and farmer-herder conflicts.”

He warned that the disruption of farming activities, illegal occupation of farmlands, and rural-urban migration are fueling food inflation, mass displacement, and national instability.

The CDS urged urgent investment in grassroots agriculture, including enhanced access to credit, infrastructure, and market opportunities, to reposition farming as a respected and profitable profession.

“With the migration of rural youths to urban centres, agricultural productivity is declining.

“We must make farming attractive again—not as a last resort, but as a national duty and a prestigious calling,” he said.

In his remarks, the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Muhammed Badaru, advocated a human-focused approach to security by tackling causes such as poverty, unemployment, and social exclusion.

He called for a “whole-of-society” strategy to confront Nigeria’s complex security challenges.

“In a world where security threats know no borders, collective action is needed,” he said, praising the bravery and innovation of Nigeria’s Armed Forces in the face of persistent threats.

The minister lauded Tinubu’s commitment to improving citizens’ welfare and described the seminar as a vital platform for dialogue and inclusive national security solutions.

Also speaking, the President of AANDEC, Air Commodore Darlington Abdullahi (retd), described hunger and poverty as strategic threats to national stability.

He stressed the need for sustained investments in education, economic empowerment, and social inclusion as non-military tools for tackling insecurity.

Quoting the adage, “The children of the poor you fail to train will never let your children have peace,” he warned that neglecting the socio-economic needs of the population opens the door to instability and extremism.

“When millions suffer from hunger and poverty, they become vulnerable to exploitation by those with ill intentions.

“We must invest in our people, especially in education, livelihoods, and skills development,” he said.

Abdullahi proposed the establishment of a vocational and leadership development centre for widows and children of fallen heroes, describing it as a way to empower vulnerable communities and support national healing.