By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The Federal Government has declared that the security architecture protecting the South-East would be strengthened through better intelligence sharing, improved inter-agency collaboration and constitutional reforms on state policing, as part of efforts to guarantee enduring peace in the region.
The declaration was made by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Thursday, 30 July,at the 2026 South-East Regional Security Summit held in Umuahia, Abia State, where he stressed that the security of the region was directly tied to Nigeria’s overall unity and economic advancement.
Addressing the theme, Collaborative Approaches to Strengthening Security and Regional Stability, Idris explained that security demanded a comprehensive, whole-of-society approach involving government bodies, security agencies, traditional leaders, religious figures, civil society and the populace.
He reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, stating that the Federal Government was fully committed to ensuring that every community in the South-East experienced enduring peace, since security served as the foundation for investment, education, agriculture and economic growth.
He said, “When the South-East is secured, Nigeria becomes stronger. When every region experiences peace, our democracy thrives. And when we unite as one people, bound by a shared destiny, no force can undermine the promise of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The Minister pointed to ongoing investments in infrastructure, youth empowerment, education, digital skills and support for small enterprises as vital elements of the administration’s broader security strategy, and urged citizens to dismiss misinformation while supporting grassroots policing reforms through continuous constitutional amendments concerning state police.
“Peace transcends mere absence of conflict; it embodies justice, opportunity, inclusion, and hope. We must collectively reject division and strive to cultivate communities based on trust and shared prosperity,” Idris said.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, said the National Assembly remained committed to providing legislative support to strengthen Nigeria’s security framework, stressing that tackling insecurity required robust collaboration among government entities, security agencies, traditional institutions, civil society and citizens.
“No nation has ever achieved security through isolated actions; security thrives where partnerships are nurtured,” he said, adding that the Senate would continue backing initiatives that bolstered national unity, economic growth and regional stability.
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, called for enhanced regional cooperation and institutional reforms to tackle the evolving security challenges confronting the South-East.
“The moment has arrived to transition from dialogue to action. Security cannot be attained solely through force; it demands collaboration, community trust, and shared responsibility,” Kalu said, reaffirming the House’s commitment to endorsing legislative and constitutional reforms that would reinforce Nigeria’s security framework.
In his address, the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, described security as the foundation of development and prosperity, insisting that no meaningful progress could be achieved in an environment gripped by fear and insecurity.
“We cannot afford to surrender this great land and its people to the forces of insecurity. Security is the foundation upon which all our hopes for development and prosperity rest,” Otti said, stressing the need to generate economic opportunities for young people, enhance intelligence sharing and address the root causes of crime to strengthen peace and regional development.
The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), said the Federal Government remained committed to protecting the lives and property of Nigerians through ongoing investments in the Armed Forces and other security agencies.
“Security is not merely the duty of the Armed Forces or the Police; it is a collective responsibility that necessitates the unified commitment of the government, communities, and every patriotic citizen,” Musa said, noting that improved training, advanced equipment, better intelligence gathering and stronger inter-agency collaboration were strengthening the nation’s security response.
The event was attended by the Senate President, represented by Yar’Adua; the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Kalu; the Governor of Abia State, Otti; representatives of the governors of Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi and Imo states; the Minister of Defence, Musa; traditional leaders, religious figures, heads of security agencies, lawmakers, civil society organisations and other stakeholders from the South-East.
