Ex-DSS Director urges Nigeria to seek alternative weapons suppliers amid global conflicts

Michael Olumide

Former Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mike Ejiofor, has called on the Federal Government to diversify Nigeria’s defence procurement channels and strengthen international security partnerships, insisting that the country cannot afford to depend on a few traditional allies in its battle against insecurity.

Ejiofor made the call on Monday while speaking during Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State.

Reacting to concerns over Nigeria’s access to military hardware amid ongoing global conflicts involving Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Israel, and the United States, the former DSS director said the country still has several options for sourcing weapons and defence equipment.

According to him, the ongoing wars may have affected supplies from some traditional partners, but countries such as Turkey and China remain viable alternatives.

“The Minister of Defence made that allegation, apparently. It has not been long since the war started, so if there were orders placed, we have other options. We can go to Turkey, China and other areas that can help us,” he said.

Ejiofor also reflected on Nigeria’s longstanding security partnership with the United States, expressing concern over the apparent lack of visible impact from such collaborations in recent years.

He urged the government to critically evaluate whether existing international partnerships are producing measurable improvements in counterterrorism operations and internal security management.

“Don’t forget that America has been partnering with us, but I don’t seem to be seeing the effectiveness of that collaboration. We have not had much on the activities,” he noted.

The former DSS boss further expressed reservations over the establishment of the Office of the Special Adviser on Homeland Security by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, warning that poorly defined responsibilities could lead to institutional rivalry and inefficiency.
While acknowledging that the initiative could be beneficial if properly implemented, Ejiofor cautioned against creating overlapping command structures that may undermine the nation’s security architecture.

“I don’t know the intent of that homeland security office, but maybe the President wants to adopt the American system, where you have a separate homeland security structure. Until the jobs of the National Security Adviser and this new Special Adviser are clearly defined, there is bound to be conflict between the two offices,” he warned.

According to him, Nigeria’s security challenges cannot be resolved solely through the acquisition of weapons but require effective intelligence gathering, strategic planning and improved coordination among security agencies.

Ejiofor also addressed concerns over the vulnerability of senior military officers and other prominent Nigerians to attacks, stressing that insecurity has become widespread and increasingly unpredictable.

He pointed out that even highly protected individuals have fallen victim to criminal attacks, underscoring the need for comprehensive reforms rather than isolated protective measures.

“The most important thing is that we must bring these people to book, curtail their activities and see how we can move on. We recall the case of Mike Ozekhome when he was attacked despite the presence of policemen with him,” he said.

Calling for a more robust and results-oriented counterterrorism strategy, Ejiofor said Nigeria’s security agencies must be equipped with the necessary skills, intelligence capabilities and operational strength to decisively confront armed groups.

He argued that the objective should be to systematically weaken criminal elements until they are compelled to surrender and submit to the authority of the state.

“The decisive thing to do is that we should acquire all the necessary skills to deal with these people and bring them to their knees. Let them surrender, but not by asking them to come and surrender first,” he stressed.

He further questioned the rationale behind negotiations conducted from a position of weakness, insisting that any engagement with armed groups must be anchored on state authority and strategic advantage.

“When they surrender, what do you do with them? We should be negotiating from a position of power, not weakness. We should deal with these people and let them surrender and face the law,” he added.

Ejiofor also urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and security-conscious, particularly while travelling, given the prevailing insecurity in several parts of the country.

“The most important thing to know is that there is too much insecurity in the country. Let us be conscious of our environment, especially when travelling, and know how to protect ourselves from these bandits,” he warned.