The Presidency has reiterated the Federal Government’s resolve to safeguard lives and property across the country, describing citizen engagement and grassroots collaboration as central pillars in the ongoing fight against insecurity.

The assurance followed the physical session of the Citizens’ Assembly, convened in Minna, Niger State, where Assembly members and key stakeholders from 12 local government areas gathered to deliberate on prevailing security concerns in their communities and to proffer practical, community-driven solutions.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North Central), Dr. Abiodun Essiet, who represented the Presidency at the session, said participants were drawn from Mashegu, Edati, Shiroro, Agaie, Agwara, Gurara, Chanchaga, Kontagora, Rafi, Mariga, Munya and Borgu local government areas.

According to her in a statement on Thursday, the engagement was designed to obtain first-hand insights from residents, document feedback on emerging threats and local vulnerabilities, and brief participants on ongoing Federal Government interventions aimed at curbing terrorist attacks and other criminal activities in the North-Central zone and adjoining regions.

Dr. Essiet noted that beyond intelligence gathering, the forum also served as a trust-building mechanism between government and citizens, stressing that inclusive dialogue, transparency and community ownership of security processes remain critical to achieving sustainable peace.

She further disclosed that following the session, she paid courtesy visits to the Niger State Commissioner for Homeland Security, Barrister Maurice Bello Magaji; the Commissioner of Police, CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman; and the State Director of the Department of State Services, Usman Bello Ibrahim.

She said feedback and observations from the Citizens’ Assembly were shared with the security chiefs to strengthen coordination, improve response strategies and enhance the protection of lives and property across the state.

Reaffirming the administration’s stance, the presidential aide said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains unwavering in his commitment to the safety of every Nigerian irrespective of location, adding that insights gathered from the Assembly would be integrated into broader national security planning and policy formulation.

The office of the Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement forms part of a wider federal initiative established in 2023 to deepen grassroots participation in governance and ensure effective communication of government programmes at the community level.

The structure, replicated across the six geopolitical zones, is designed to bridge the gap between policy formulation and local realities through continuous dialogue, needs assessments, and stakeholder consultations.

Through platforms such as the Citizens’ Assembly, the Presidency aims to strengthen participatory governance, promote decentralised development and address region-specific challenges while reinforcing public trust in federal institutions and initiatives.