According to the Daily Post, on Thursday, December 4, 2025, former Aviation Minister Osita Chidoka argued that Nigeria’s fight against terrorism is not a matter of increasing troop numbers. He lamented that the country still lacks any form of special forces dedicated to tackling insurgency.
Chidoka made the remark during an interview on Arise Television, as reported by DAILY POST, where he stressed the importance of developing Special Forces and a dedicated Forest Force for Nigeria’s security challenges.
He explained that after dealing with insecurity since 2008, the nation should already have built a specialised unit. According to him, what is needed is a forest-focused security team rather than simply adding more police officers or military personnel.
Chidoka noted President Bola Tinubu’s approach of deploying more security personnel, referencing discussions about emergency measures involving the recruitment of thousands of police officers and soldiers, including the possible use of NYSC camps. However, he described these steps as reactive rather than strategic.
He maintained that Nigeria’s struggle against terrorism is not dependent on swelling the ranks of security agencies, adding that it is disappointing that the country has not developed a specialised counterterrorism force.
Drawing comparisons, Chidoka recalled how Colombia responded to similar challenges by establishing the Jungle Force an elite unit trained with the support of the U.S. Navy, equipped with helicopters, its own intelligence network, and a dedicated strike team.
He said, “We don’t need more soldiers or police, because if you look at the police budget of 2025, it’s over 1.2 trillion naira.”
He added that out of this figure, about 1.1 trillion naira goes to salaries, leaving only about 97 billion for other operational needs. View, More,
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