Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed concern that Nigeria’s 15-year battle against Boko Haram has dragged on far longer than the 30-month civil war.
He warned that the country’s security forces are ill-prepared for the asymmetric nature of modern conflicts.
Speaking virtually on the Toyin Falola Interviews on Sunday, Obasanjo argued that Nigeria’s military remains trained for conventional warfare, while insurgents operate as fluid, guerrilla-style targets embedded within communities.
He stressed the need for specialised foreign training, improved intelligence gathering, and deployment of modern technology to make meaningful progress.
Obasanjo recalled visiting Maiduguri in 2011, where Boko Haram leaders signalled readiness for dialogue and even offered a 21-day ceasefire, but said the government failed to respond. He lamented that opportunities for negotiation were missed, allowing the insurgency to deepen.
“Civil War lasted 30 months. This fight against insurgency and criminals has lasted almost 15 years. That should worry anybody,” he said.
The former president highlighted internal sabotage as a major obstacle, citing past experiences where military operations were compromised by leaks. He questioned whether Nigeria currently enjoys the trust of allies to share critical intelligence.
Obasanjo criticised the tendency to throw money at crises instead of addressing root causes, recalling how Niger Delta militancy was worsened by unemployment and poor governance. He urged government to treat security as a national priority and seek global support where necessary.
Turning to Congo, Obasanjo described its instability as largely internal, dating back to pre-independence fault lines. He noted that despite vast resources and strategic importance, Congo’s governance model remains weak, with leaders prioritising presidential guards over building a national military. He warned that external powers, including the US, China, France, and the UAE, are heavily invested in Congo’s mineral wealth, but insisted that only Congolese leadership can resolve the crisis.
Obasanjo concluded that Nigeria and other African nations must embrace specialised training, intelligence-driven operations, and genuine political will if they are to overcome insurgency and instability.
