Security agencies in the country, including the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigerian Immigration Service and the Man O’ War Nigeria, have called sister agencies and citizens to stop hoarding intelligence and information, stating that information sharing will reduce insecurity.

They made the call during the first public lecture of the Man O’ War Lagos State Command in Agege, Lagos, with the theme, “From Vigilance to Intelligence: The Role of Citizens in Modern Security Architecture.”

Speaking with The Guardian after the lecture, the Lagos State Commander of Man O’ War, Ayodele Ajayi, stated that “Nigeria is in a security mess because we’ve not been sharing information well and through the right channels, and have also not been teaching citizens their roles. Security is everybody’s business, and one of the ways to be a responsible citizen is to bring about programmes like this.”

Asked about state police and if Man O’ War is capable of taking up the role, Ajayi said: “Man O’ War has the structure and trained personnel ready to take up any function passed to us by the government.

However, “taking up the role is not for Man O’ War to decide. We have a responsible government that knows what to do, and I am sure it’s working hard to do that.”

“To the youths, the future lies in our hands; the country that does not take its youths seriously is killing its future,” Ajayi stated. “The youth should not wait for the government to do everything; we should take responsibility. If each youth can be a good citizen and take up responsibility, I’m sure Nigeria will be a better place.”

Also, the keynote speaker and Coordinator, Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (CLTC), Sea School, Apapa, Dr Ekundayo Olubunmie, said the stakeholders met at a time the conversation around security has shifted. He noted that for decades, security was framed as the exclusive duty of uniformed men and women while citizens were spectators.

He warned that modern threats no longer respect the old division of labour, and that terrorism, cybercrime, kidnapping, drug trafficking, cultism and even misinformation move faster than any institution can respond to. He remarked that the battle line now runs through the streets, schools, markets and WhatsApp groups.

According to Olubunmie, “in modern security architecture, intelligence is no longer the monopoly of agencies with badges and databases. Every citizen with eyes, ears, a conscience, and a mobile phone is a potential node in the national security grid.

“When a market woman notices unfamiliar faces stockpiling jerrycans, when a student reports a cult initiation plan, or when a community leader documents suspicious movement near critical infrastructure, that is intelligence.”

Noting that “citizens are no longer the weakest link but the first line of defence, Olubunmie said their role now sits on “situational awareness; knowing your environment and understanding what is normal in your street, school, or estate, so that the abnormal stands out.”

Meanwhile, the NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, Oluwaseun Abolurin, said citizens need to be awake, especially these days that security is under serious threat in the country. He added that they also need to know how to channel information to avoid misinformation, and for the right information to go to the relevant security agencies, who can act and secure the society.