FG demands citizen-security alliance

By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

The Federal Government has called for stronger collaboration among security agencies, government institutions, communities, the media and citizens to address Nigeria’s security challenges.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the call in Abuja on Thursday, saying the country’s security challenges could no longer be tackled through military force alone.

Idris spoke when the Special Adviser to the President on Homeland Security, Maj.-Gen. Adeyinka Famadewa (retd.), paid a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Information and National Orientation.

He described the visit as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation between the ministry and the newly established Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Homeland Security, particularly in the area of communicating security policies and initiatives to Nigerians.

The minister said sustainable peace and national development depended on closer coordination among relevant stakeholders and active citizen participation in the country’s security architecture.

“Peace and security are essential elements; in fact, they are the building blocks of any development that can happen anywhere,” he said.

Idris said deploying more force alone would not resolve the nation’s security challenges, stressing the need for stronger collaboration between security agencies and citizens.

“You cannot shoot yourself out of this problem. Security requires collaboration between the security agencies, the armed forces and the general public,” he said.

He urged the armed forces and other security agencies to strengthen their engagement with communities, while government institutions and the media should ensure that Nigerians receive credible, timely and accurate information.

The minister said the grassroots presence of the National Orientation Agency and other agencies under his ministry could be leveraged to strengthen community resilience, promote responsible citizenship and improve public understanding of national security initiatives.

He also identified fake news, misinformation and disinformation as emerging threats to national security, warning that false information could undermine public confidence, heighten tensions and complicate efforts to maintain peace.

Idris therefore called for greater media and information literacy as well as responsible communication by all stakeholders.

Information key to homeland security — Famadewa

Speaking earlier, Famadewa said his visit was aimed at establishing a stronger working relationship with the ministry, stressing that information and public enlightenment had become indispensable to modern homeland security.

He said the new office would focus on strengthening intelligence and surveillance, improving border security, identifying security threats and developing effective protocols for reporting and responding to crises.

Famadewa said information management had become increasingly important in contemporary security operations, particularly with the rapid spread of narratives through digital platforms.

“Information is key in asymmetric warfare. The first person to speak wins, and we cannot sit back and allow others to shape perception for us,” he said.

He stressed the need for government to communicate swiftly and effectively during security incidents to prevent misinformation from filling information gaps and shaping public perception.

Responding, Idris assured the Special Adviser of the ministry’s full cooperation, saying stronger institutional coordination and effective public communication would be critical to the success of the homeland security strategy.

He said active citizen participation, improved information management and closer collaboration among security agencies and communities would complement the Federal Government’s efforts to realise President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of a safer, more peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.