A former Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Ibrahim (retd.), has attributed Nigeria’s worsening security challenges to its economic potential, weak border controls and deepening internal divisions.

Speaking at the reunion dinner of the 42nd Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Abuja on Saturday, Ibrahim said Nigeria’s relative prosperity makes it attractive to both internal and external forces seeking to exploit its resources.

According to him, while many citizens may not perceive Nigeria as prosperous due to prevailing hardships, the country is viewed from outside as a fertile ground for exploitation.

“One of our major problems is that Nigeria is prosperous. Prosperity attracts attention. It draws people in, especially when borders are porous. We are paying the price for that prosperity,” he said.

Ibrahim noted that prolonged exposure to Nigeria’s challenges often blinds citizens to the country’s strategic and economic value, which he said outsiders are keen to harvest without contributing to its growth.

“If you live here too long, you may not be able to swear that Nigeria is prosperous. But from outside, people believe they can come and reap where they did not sow. Sadly, some among us are more invested in identity politics than national unity,” he added.

The former defence chief warned that forces predicting Nigeria’s disintegration years ago have not abandoned their agenda.

“Some people believed this country would break up almost a decade ago. They are still at war. They are still pushing that agenda,” he said.

He described members of the 42nd Regular Course as officers trained for the turbulence currently confronting the nation, noting that many of them have held key command and leadership positions across the country.

“Your generation was prepared for the turbulence Nigeria is facing today,” Ibrahim said. “Many of you have managed crises that threatened the very essence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

He stressed that national security cannot be managed in isolation, urging senior military officers to maintain unity and strong professional bonds.

“No single individual can secure this country alone. Apart from the NDA that binds us together, we have no other country but Nigeria,” he said.

Reflecting on his tenure as Chief of Defence Staff between 2012 and 2014, Ibrahim expressed satisfaction with reforms introduced under his leadership, including the establishment of new military divisions in the North-West and North-East.

“We understood that joint task forces alone could not effectively handle the scale of the security challenges we faced, which informed the creation of new divisions,” he said.

Earlier, President of the 42nd Regular Course, Maj.-Gen. Folusho Oyinlola, described the reunion as an opportunity for reflection, renewal and recommitment to service.

Oyinlola said members of the course were bonded by shared sacrifice, discipline and leadership values, urging them to strengthen unity beyond rank and office.

He also paid tribute to fallen colleagues who lost their lives in the line of duty, describing their sacrifice as a reminder of the ideals of patriotism and selfless service.