…after South East maiden Security Summit

Minister of Information and National Oriention Dr Mohammed Idris has stated that security is not a responsibility of government or security agencies alone but requires the collective commitment of communities, leaders and the  citizenry.

He said this in Umuahia Abia state capital on Friday during a press conference he held after the previous day ( Thursday ) maiden

South-East Regional Security Summit, organised by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South-East), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Defence, and hosted by the Government and people of Abia State.

The press confetence he stated,  centered on the maiden South – East Security Summit and the achivements of the Renewed Hope Hope Administration.

Minister Idris described the Summit as a significant platform that brought together key stakeholders from across the region, including government representatives, security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders, political stakeholders, professionals, youth representatives and other critical voices committed to finding sustainable solutions to the security challenges confronting the South-East.

While commending  the organisers, particularly the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South-East), the Federal Ministry of Defence and the Abia State Government, for convening this important conversation, he remarked that the strong attendance and quality of participation at the Summit demonstrated a shared understanding that

security is not only a responsibility of government or security agencies alone, but requires the collective commitment of communities, leaders and citizens.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who was represented by the Defence Minister General Christopher Musa at the Summit, reiterated his  administration’s committment  to ensuring that every Nigerian, in every part of the country, has the right to live, work and pursue prosperity in a safe and secure environment.

According to the Information Minister, the security challenges facing the South-East, like other parts of Nigeria, require a comprehensive approach  that combines effective law enforcement, intelligence-driven operations, community engagement, economic empowerment and development.

“President Tinubu has continued to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture through enhanced support for security agencies, improved operational capacity, intelligence coordination and closer collaboration among federal, state and community stakeholders, including most importantly, recognising  that lasting security cannot be achieved through force alone.

“Peace and stability are strengthened when citizens have economic opportunities, young people have hope, businesses can thrive and communities have confidence in government adding that this why the Renewed Hope Agenda places security within a broader framework of economic development, infrastructure renewal, human capital investment and social inclusion.

On the imperative of securing the South East, the Minister hinged it on the insustry, resilience and hardworking people stating that if the region is peaceful and secured, more investors would be attracted to it

“Indeed, a peaceful South-East will attract investment, a  growing economy will create opportunities, while an empowered population will strengthen national stability”, the Minister stated

He therefore saw the summit as one that would also reinforce president Tinubu administration’s commitment to listening to citizens, engaging communities and working with stakeholders across the country to develop solutions that reflect local realities, even as the Federal Government recognises the enormous potential of the South-East and remains committed to creating the conditions necessary for businesses, industries and communities in the region to prosper.

Continuing , he said, when President Tinubu assumed office, the administration inherited significant economic challenges, including fiscal pressures, declining revenues, exchange rate distortions and structural weaknesses that had constrained growth for many years.

“The President made the difficult decision to implement reforms in the foreign exchange market including  removal of fuel subsidy necessary to correct these challenges and place Nigeria on a path of sustainable economic recovery.  These were part of a broader effort to create a more transparent, productive and investment-friendly economy”.

He however said that the government understands that reforms come with responsibilities, explaining that  that nwas  why government has continued to introduce interventions to support Nigerians, including programmes for small businesses, consumer credit initiatives, student financing and social protection measures, with the objective to build an economy where Nigerians can produce more, businesses can expand and opportunities can multiply.

Rising from the summit that was themed ” Collaborative Approaches to Strengthening  Security and Regional Stability”  the participants in their communique recommended among others, increased investment in modern security technologies, observing that checkpoints alone are insufficient to combat highly mobile and technologically sophisticated criminal groups.

It therefore called for the deployment of drones, geospatial mapping, Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) systems, forensic capabilities, automated vehicle identification technology, digital databases, emergency communication platforms and professionally managed surveillance infrastructure.

The communiqué also underscored the need to strengthen the judicial process through prompt investigation, diligent prosecution and appropriate punishment of offenders in order to reinforce deterrence, restore public confidence and ensure that criminal acts attract swift and decisive consequences.

The summit concluded with a firm commitment by the Federal Ministry of Defence to establish a technical implementation team that will harmonise the recommendations from all regional security summits into a coordinated national strategy for improving security, stability and sustainable development across Nigeria.