Nigeria’s Security Challenges cannot be addressed by Military Action alone, says Minister

By emmanuel MALAGU

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris and other FG Officials

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris has called for an engagement between his ministry and the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Homeland Security.

Speaking Thursday in Abuja, Idris said that such an engagements would deepen collaboration in communicating security policies and initiatives to Nigerians.

The minister spoke when the Special Adviser to the President on Homeland Security, Maj.-Gen. Adeyinka Famadewa (Rtd.), paid him a courtesy visit.

He described the visit and engagement as important opportunity to deepen understanding of the mandate of the newly established Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Homeland Security.

He said that the engagement would strengthen collaboration in communicating security policies and initiatives to Nigerians.

“Peace and security are essential elements; in fact, they are the building blocks of any development that can happen anywhere.

“Nigeria’s security challenges cannot be addressed through military action alone, but require closer collaboration among the armed forces, security agencies, government at all levels, communities, the media and the general public.

“You can not shoot yourself out of this problem. Security requires collaboration between the security agencies, the armed forces and the general public,” he said.

The minister emphasised the grassroots reach of the National Orientation Agency and other agencies under the information ministry.

According to him, they play an important role in strengthening community resilience, promoting responsible citizenship and ensuring that citizens receive accurate and timely information.

He also identified fake news, misinformation and disinformation as emerging national security challenges, stressing the need for responsible communication and greater media and information literacy.

He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening coordination among security agencies, government institutions, communities and citizens to promote peace, security and national development.

Earlier, the Special Adviser to the President on Homeland Security said the visit was aimed at building a strong working relationship with the ministry.

Famadewa described information and public education as critical components of modern homeland security.

He said the office would focus on unified intelligence and surveillance, stronger border security, improved identification of security threats, and effective protocols for reporting and responding to crises.

“Information is key in asymmetric warfare. The first person to speak wins, and we can not sit back and allow others to shape perception for us,” he said.

Present at the meeting were the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Binyerem Ukaire; the minister’s Special Assistant on Administration, Sunday Baba and Director, Public Communication and National Orientation, Henshaw Ogubike.

Other were Director of Public Relations and Protocol, Haruna Suleiman; Coordinator Intelligence & Analysis, Maj.- Gen. Emmanuel Ndagi (Rtd), Coordinator, Operations, Maj.-Gen. Hassan Dada (Rtd); Director-General, National Broadcasting Commission, Charles Ebuebu and Director General, Nigerian Television Authority, Abdulhamid Dembos.

Also present were Director-General, Voice of Nigeria, Jibrin Baba Ndace, Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria, Ali Muhammad Ali; and other senior government officials.

Credit NAN: Texts excluding Headline