Failing Family Values Contributing To Insecurity In Nigeria – CDS
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, says failing family values are contributing greatly to insecurity in Nigeria.
Musa said this on Wednesday during the closing ceremony of ‘Exercise Haske Biyu’ at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC) Jaji in Kaduna State.
The theme of the event was ‘Family and National Security’.
According to him, the growing failure of families to imbue basic societal values of discipline, trust, morality, civic responsibility and related issues critical to a law abiding society, have helped to worsen the security situation in communities.
“The family is the bedrock of every community. Without the family, there can’t be a good community. What we have realised is that because the family system is failing, insecurity is growing; which means if we address the family issues, insecurity will go down,” the CDS said.
He said that any society that chose to ignore basic regulations, including how to understand what it is to be human, respect and love one another, will gradually slide into chaos.
According to him, bonding is also very critical to the success of family members and in enhancing security in communities.
“If families are united, then we are our brothers keepers, and we will not allow harm to happen to any other person,
and Nigeria will be better,” he added.
The CDS, therefore, said national security begins with strong families and cohesive communities, not just the efforts of security agencies.
On Excercise Haske Biyu, the defence chief said it has proven over the years, the Armed Forces College’s relevance in shaping the nation’s internal security operations through rigorous joint training and intellectual engagement.
He added that the exercise has continued to serve as a vital platform for enhancing synergy among security stakeholders and strategic partners.
The CDS explained that the presence of the First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu at the opening ceremony, had elevated the programme, and appreciated her inspiring remarks which underscored the college’s role in building national values and strategic thinking.
Musa said her engagement with participants left a lasting impact that would stimulate broader civic and policy dialogue, while also motivating collaborative approaches to national security.
He commended the participants for their resilience and focus throughout the training, urging them to translate their experiences into practical action in the pursuit of peace and stability.
The CDS hailed the college for producing world-class officers, and fostering enduring partnerships through such initiatives that are to national and international security.
He urged the college to remain steadfast in its mission of producing well-grounded, mission-ready leaders for the armed forces of Nigeria and friendly nations.
Earlier, the Commandant of the College, AVM Hassan Alhaji, said the theme was deliberately selected to highlight the importance of strong families in a society where morality, discipline, and patriotism are nurtured.
He stressed that strong families build strong nations while weak families create avenues for chaos, radicalism, extremism, and disunity, ultimately threatening national cohesion and stability.
Alhaji said the exercise provided a platform for the participants to engage in discussions that generated practical solutions to national challenges.
The Commandant disclosed that the 2026 exercise would focus on consolidating the achievements of the current year, build resilience and strengthen national spirit by involving all segments of society, including people with disabilities, to foster a shared sense of unity and purpose.
The CDS later inaugurated the remodeled Staff Staff Duties Wing of the college.
