Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd.), has issued a stark warning on the urgent need for Nigeria to rethink its peace and security strategy, describing youth unemployment, injustice, and economic inequality as “the silent fuses” capable of triggering widespread insecurity if not addressed decisively.

Delivering the keynote address at the 19th International Annual Conference and General Assembly of the Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP), held on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at the Abiola Ajimobi Resource Centre, University of Ibadan.

Musa said Nigeria must move beyond “old doctrines of security” and embrace a holistic, human-centered model that treats peace and development as inseparable.

“Without peace, there cannot be development. If we want Nigeria to be peaceful, we must learn to love our neighbours,” he said. “Many of the challenges we face are not only because of governance. They begin from our homes—where we do not show enough love to one another. We have been studying peace, but we are not practicing it.”

Gen. Musa described the theme of the conference, “Economic Challenges and the Tasks of Building Sustainable Peace in a Globalised World,” as both timely and strategic.

He warned that the traditional separation between military operations and economic planning has become obsolete. “For too long, we operated in silos—where the military was expected to create space for peace, and then economists were invited afterwards to ‘blow the gunpowder,’” he said.

“That model belongs to a bygone era. In today’s interconnected world, sustainable peace and inclusive economic governance are inseparable links. We cannot have one without the other.”

The retired military chief stressed that modern conflicts no longer follow familiar patterns, and societies that ignore the social and economic triggers of violence do so at their own peril.

Gen. Musa emphasized that peace must be understood not as a passive condition but as an active social investment built on fairness and opportunity. “The absence of war does not constitute peace. Peace is not the silence of guns—it is the presence of justice, opportunity, and a realistic hope of a better tomorrow,” he said.

He noted that globalization has intensified economic shocks, pushing vulnerable communities into deeper hardship. “Globalisation has acted as an accelerant of underlying tensions. A financial crisis in a distant capital can trigger a food riot in a local market,” he cautioned.

Describing Nigeria’s growing youth population as both an asset and a potential risk, Musa said the country must treat youth development as a core security priority. Saying: "Youth unemployment is a direct national security threat”

“An idle generation is a powder barrel waiting to ignite,” he warned. “Lack of economic opportunity for young people is not a social issue—it is a direct and immediate threat to national and global security.”

He urged government at all levels to invest aggressively in vocational training, digital skills, creative industries, and entrepreneurship as part of a proactive peacebuilding framework.

“Investing in skills and opportunity is not charity. It is the most cost-effective peacekeeping mission we will ever deploy,” he noted.

Gen. Musa highlighted the need for governance reforms that prioritize transparency, accountability, and fairness. “We must build a society anchored on justice and equity. Corruption destroys trust, and without trust, no society can be stable,” he said.

He argued that peacebuilding requires a multi-sector approach, insisting that government cannot shoulder the burden alone. “Government can craft policies, the private sector can drive inclusive growth, civil society can empower communities, and academia can provide evidence-based solutions. But our silos must fall—for we are all architects of the same federal peace.”

Gen. Musa challenged Nigerians to examine the moral foundations of their civic life, insisting that the country cannot progress without a shift in national values.

“Nigeria has celebrated 65 years. What are we doing with our potential? We are religious but not godly, hardworking but not productive,” he said. “We must challenge ourselves. This must stop if we truly want a better Nigeria.”

He called for collective responsibility, unity, forgiveness, and collaboration across all sectors to build a resilient nation capable of withstanding both domestic and global pressures.

Addressing delegates, military officers, scholars, practitioners, and fellows of SPSP, Gen. Musa concluded that Nigeria’s future rests on its ability to invest in people, strengthen justice, and build systems that place human dignity at the centre of national development.

“We possess the knowledge. We have the capacity to win the peace. But we can only succeed when we agree to work together,” he said.