Stakeholders have called for closer regional cooperation to tackle insecurity and sustaining peace in the South-East region of Nigeria region.
The decision was taken at the maiden edition of the South-East Security Summit, which took place at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Umuahia, Abia State capital.
The summit was organised by the Federal Ministry of Defence in collaboration with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South-East), on the theme: ‘Collaborative Approaches to Strengthening Security and Regional Stability.’
Addressing participants, Governor Alex Otti said that security remains the bedrock of development, stressing that no society can achieve meaningful progress if its people live in fear.
According to him, governments at all levels must continue to strengthen collaboration with security agencies, while investing in initiatives that remove the conditions that fuel crime.
‘Security is the foundation of prosperity. Until citizens are made sufficiently secure and free from the threats of criminals, no real development can happen,’ Otti said.
The Governor noted that although the South-East had recorded significant progress in restoring peace over the past few years, leaders must continue to work together to consolidate those gains.
He said that intelligence sharing, coordinated security operations and stronger partnerships among the South-East States had contributed to reclaiming communities previously threatened by criminal activities.
Otti also argued that fighting insecurity goes beyond confronting armed criminals, urging authorities to dismantle networks involved in illicit drug trafficking, illegal arms supply and other activities that sustain violent crimes.
‘Whoever threatens the peace and security of this region, irrespective of ethnicity or religion, is an enemy of the people and must be dealt with according to the law,’ he said.
The governor further urged residents to support security agencies with timely and credible information, insisting that criminals should never be shielded because of family or community ties.
He also identified unemployment and economic hardship, as factors that often push young people into crime, calling for greater investment in education, agriculture, infrastructure and job creation as part of a long-term security strategy.
Godswill Akpabio, Senate President,
represented by Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, said that insecurity can only be effectively addressed through collaboration among governments, security agencies and local communities.
Akpabio described the summit as a timely initiative, saying that no institution or security agency can tackle today’s security challenges alone.
‘No nation has ever secured itself, through isolated efforts. Security succeeds where partnership flourishes,’ he said.
He maintained that the National Assembly would continue to support efforts aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture through improved legislation, enhanced intelligence gathering, technology-driven policing and closer cooperation among security agencies.
Akpabio also called for greater community participation in security, noting that lasting peace depends on the trust and cooperation between citizens and law enforcement agencies.
In their goodwill messages, Governor Hope Uzodinma, of Imo State, represented by Chinyere Ekomaru, his deputy; Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State, represented by Onyekachukwu Ibezim, his deputy; Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, represented by Ifeanyi Ossai, his deputy, and Governor Francis Nwaifuru of Ebonyi State, represented by
Moses Odunwa, Speaker, Ebonyi State House of Assembly, reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening regional cooperation against insecurity, insisting that no State can effectively tackle crime without working closely with its neighbours.
The governors commended President Bola Tinubu for ongoing efforts to improve national security and Governor Alex Otti, for hosting the summit, describing it as a timely platform to develop practical solutions to the region’s security challenges.
They agreed that while the South-East had recorded significant progress in restoring peace in recent years, sustaining those gains will require greater collaboration among state governments, security agencies and local communities.
Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, commended President Tinubu for supporting reforms, aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture, including the planned expansion of the Nigerian Army and recruitment of additional personnel.
Kalu also commended Governor Alex Otti, for hosting the summit and for what he described, as the remarkable improvement in security across the State.
He further urged South-East States to integrate security planning into the region’s long term economic development agenda, noting that investment and industrial growth cannot flourish without peace.
Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, stressed that State security cannot be achieved, by government and security agencies alone and called for society and government approach.
He reaffirmed President Tinubu’s commitment to ensuring lasting peace and economic growth in the South-East, through a combination of military operations, non-kinetic measures, infrastructure development, and educational initiatives such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
He also commended Governor Alex Otti for making Abia a peaceful and a safe state while also applauding him for his good leadership and transformation.
‘When the South-East is secure, Nigeria is stronger. When every region enjoys peace, our democracy flourishes,’ he said.
Earlier, Christopher Gwabin Musa, a retired Army General and Minister of Defence, convener of the summit, explained that the Federal Government convened the summit to engage directly with stakeholders in the region and develop practical, community-driven solutions to insecurity.
He said that the administration of President Tinubu is committed to restoring peace across the country through improved intelligence gathering, better-equipped security agencies and stronger collaboration with communities.
‘Without peace, there cannot be development. That is why President Bola Tinubu is determined to ensure that communities become active partners in our security architecture,’ he said.
Azubuike Ihejirika, former Chief of Army Staff, while delivering the keynote address
said that lasting peace in the South-East depends on effective collaboration between security agencies and local communities.
Ihejirika urged security operatives to go after those responsible for criminal acts without branding entire communities, as accomplices, warning that such an approach, would only discourage residents from sharing useful intelligence with law enforcement agencies.