Adamu Yusuf
The Beyond Barracks Project has recommended expanding Nigeria’s military personnel to one million to effectively respond to the country’s evolving security threats.
It also proposed increasing the Nigeria Police Force to 1.5 million officers to ensure nationwide coverage, rapid response, and sustained security presence, especially as criminal networks and armed groups continue to adopt more sophisticated tactics.
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The Executive Director of the Beyond Barracks Project, Mohammed Thompson, made the call in a statement issued to journalists in Kaduna.
He said the organisation, which is committed to the welfare of military and paramilitary families, remains in solidarity with Nigeria’s soldiers, officers, and security personnel nationwide.
The Beyond Barracks Project also applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for declaring a nationwide security emergency and directing an expansion of recruitment into the armed forces and police.
According to the group, these bold measures demonstrate the President’s clear understanding of Nigeria’s complex security landscape and his renewed commitment to protecting citizens.
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The organisation further commended Nigeria’s security agencies for the recent successful rescue of abducted church members and students in Kwara State and Kebbi State.
It appreciated the Nigerian Armed Forces, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Police Force, and other agencies involved in what it described as a “swift, coordinated, and highly professional operation.”
However, the group urged the government to equip all security agencies with modern and sophisticated weapons, alongside advanced surveillance, communication, and logistical technologies.
It stressed that superior tools and digital capabilities are essential for countering and neutralising emerging threats.
It also emphasised the need for sustainable training and improved welfare to accompany increased recruitment.
According to the organisation, expanding personnel without adequate training, incentives, and welfare support could weaken morale and undermine long-term commitment.
The group called for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture, recommending a long-term framework that strengthens intelligence gathering, deepens community policing, modernises military capacity, and enhances multi-agency cooperation.
“A robust, well-equipped, and well-supported security system is the backbone of national stability and public confidence,” the statement added.
The Beyond Barracks Project urged the government and key security stakeholders to sustain current momentum, deepen structural reforms, and continue investing in long-term capacity building.
It expressed optimism that Nigeria will emerge stronger, safer, and more united.