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From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The Federal Government, governors of Cross River, Zamfara and Enugu states, Bassey Otu, Dauda Lawal and Peter Mbah, and Senator Abdul’aziz Yari have called for a collective national effort to tackle insecurity, warning that the responsibility for protecting lives and sustaining democracy cannot be left to government and security agencies alone.
They spoke yesterday at a ceremony in Abuja, where insecurity, election security, misinformation and citizens’ participation in governance featured prominently.
Minister of Defence, Chris Musa, represented by his Special Adviser, Olumfemi Akinjobi, said government, political parties, security agencies, the media, civil society organisations, traditional institutions and citizens all had critical roles to play in securing the country and protecting the democratic process.
Musa said security agencies must strengthen election security frameworks to protect both the electoral process and the constitutional rights of citizens, while urging stakeholders to tackle misinformation and disinformation capable of undermining public confidence.
He said timely, accurate and transparent communication was particularly important in the current information environment, where silence could create room for false information to thrive.
According to him, technology companies, media organisations, civil society groups, educational institutions and individual citizens must join efforts to combat misinformation and promote responsible civic engagement.
“Ultimately, democracy is protected by citizens. Every Nigerian has a responsibility to participate peacefully in the democratic process, respect the rule of law and reject all forms of electoral violence,” he said.
Musa also urged political parties to place national interest above partisan considerations, stressing that political competition should not be treated as warfare.
Governor Lawal said he was optimistic that insecurity would eventually be brought under control, expressing confidence that the situation would improve.
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“Inshallah, in the matter of time, it will come to pass,” he said.
Mbah, represented by his deputy, Ifeanyi Ossai, said the discussion on insecurity was timely, noting that the issue had increasingly been pushed to the margins of governance and national discourse.
He said the pressure on the military had made it necessary to examine how other security agencies could complement military operations in confronting insecurity.
“What has happened to other security services that are supposed to complement that effort?” Mbah asked, urging stakeholders to use platforms such as the lecture to assess existing approaches and develop stronger strategies for the future.
Yari, who represents Zamfara West Senatorial District, said Nigerians must abandon the perception that security was solely the responsibility of the President and security agencies.
“Nigeria should come together, everybody’s hands should be on deck. Security is not the President’s duty or the security agencies’ duty alone, but we should come together collectively,” he said.
Yari also expressed optimism that the 2027 general election would be credible, urging political actors, government institutions and citizens to work collectively to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
Speaking on development in Cross River, Otu, represented by his Special Adviser on Media, Emmanuel Ogbeche, said his administration was prioritising economic and agricultural development as part of efforts to improve the welfare of residents.
He highlighted the recovery of the Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort from the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), describing the development as an opportunity to reposition the facility as a hub for trade, tourism and creative enterprise.
Otu said the state government was engaging investors and other partners to transform Tinapa into a centre of commerce and job creation under a transparent management structure.
