Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, says the Nigerian Armed Forces, working closely with other security agencies, have made real progress in reducing insecurity across several regions of the country to help ease food shortages.
He made this known at an event in Lagos titled Food Security and Sports Diplomacy, hosted by the Lagos chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria. The event was part of activities marking the United Nations World Nutrition Month.
Represented by Air Vice Marshal Bashir Mamman, Commandant of the Armed Forces Resettlement Centre in Oshodi, Lagos, General Musa explained that the military’s approach involves both forceful and peaceful strategies.
On the forceful side, operations like Hadin Kai in the North East continue to push back Boko Haram, while Operation Fansa Yamma addresses criminal activity in the North West. In the Middle Belt, Operation Safe Haven targets communal clashes and banditry, and Operation Whirl Stroke focuses on armed groups in Benue and Taraba. The Multinational Joint Task Force in the Chad Basin also supports the fight against terrorism. In the Niger Delta, the military protects oil assets and combats militancy, while the Deep Blue Sea initiative—run with NIMASA and the Nigerian Navy—focuses on maritime security.
Beyond combat, the military is promoting food security through local partnerships. General Musa highlighted the launch of military-managed farms, part of the Defence Farm initiative. These farms aim to support government efforts to increase food production while fostering peaceful relationships with local communities.
The military also sees sports as a tool for peacebuilding and social unity.
Opening the event, Ambassador Olatutu Oladunni, Chairperson of the Lagos Sports Writers Association, emphasized the importance of nutrition and hygiene in children’s development. She described good nutrition as a fundamental right that opens doors to health, safety, success, and personal growth.
She also noted that sports and diplomacy can bridge cultural gaps and create new paths for economic and social investment, especially when nations use their diversity as a strength.
