Former Director of Defence Information and military strategist, Major General John Eneche (Rtd), has emphasized the importance of sustained international military cooperation in tackling Nigeria’s security challenges, saying the country cannot overcome insecurity without long-term planning and collaboration with strategic partners.
Eneche made the remarks during an interview on Arise News while discussing the evolving approach to Nigeria’s counter-insurgency and national security efforts.
The retired general recalled an incident in which a military training team from the United States visited Nigeria to provide specialized training for Nigerian security personnel but was turned away after a former service chief declined the offer.
According to him, the decision prevented the proposed collaboration from going ahead at the time.
“I recall there was a time that we had a training team from America during the tenure of one of the service chiefs, and he said, ‘No, we don’t need them to come and train us,’ so they went back,” Eneche said.
He explained that the situation later changed as both countries renewed discussions and reached an understanding that paved the way for the training programme to proceed.
According to Eneche, the arrangement subsequently received the necessary approvals from the Federal Executive Council and the Commander-in-Chief before it was implemented.
“But this time they came, and we reached an understanding with them, and we agreed with them for the Federal Executive Council and then the Commander-in-Chief to approve it because, for me, we cannot wipe out all this insecurity in one day,” he added.
The retired general stressed that defeating insecurity requires patience, continuity and carefully coordinated strategies rather than expecting immediate results.
He argued that Nigeria’s security challenges have developed over many years and therefore cannot be eliminated overnight.
Eneche maintained that cooperation with international partners can play an important role in strengthening the capabilities of Nigeria’s armed forces through training, knowledge sharing and the exchange of operational experience.
According to him, such partnerships should complement existing military efforts by providing additional expertise that can improve operational effectiveness against insurgents and other criminal groups.
He noted that modern security threats are increasingly complex and often require countries to work together in addressing shared challenges.
The former defence spokesman also suggested that military training partnerships can expose personnel to new tactics, technologies and best practices that may enhance their ability to respond to evolving security threats.
While acknowledging the professionalism and experience of Nigeria’s armed forces, Eneche argued that continuous training remains essential in adapting to changing security realities.
He emphasized that strengthening the capacity of security personnel through international cooperation should not be viewed as a sign of weakness but as part of a broader strategy to improve national security.
According to him, successful counter-insurgency operations require a combination of military preparedness, effective planning, intelligence sharing and sustained collaboration among relevant stakeholders.
Eneche further stressed that the fight against terrorism, banditry and other forms of insecurity demands consistency and long-term commitment from government institutions and security agencies.
His comments come amid ongoing efforts by Nigeria to strengthen partnerships with foreign governments in areas including military training, intelligence cooperation and defence capacity building.
The retired general maintained that while external support can enhance operational capabilities, lasting success will depend on sustained implementation of comprehensive security strategies tailored to Nigeria’s unique challenges.
He concluded that addressing insecurity is a gradual process that requires persistence, coordinated action and continued investment in the training and development of the country’s security personnel.
Eneche’s remarks add to the broader national conversation on security sector reforms and the role international partnerships can play in supporting Nigeria’s efforts to restore peace and stability across the country.
