Category: Nigerian Tribune

I changed my mind to encourage the improved relationship between media and security in Nigeria. Moreso, it is not unusual with intelligence organisations globally to do this when the need arises. Our counterpart, the current Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), held a televised briefing on 16th September 2025, where he spoke to the agency’s fight against criminal cartels, terrorism and drug traffickers. Traditionally, the MI6 Chief also makes annual public speech aimed at building public trust and explaining threats.

Your Department is 40 years now. That’s a huge milestone. We expected some fanfare, but its quite quiet. Can you walk us through your experience these past decades?

Intelligence Organisations are not disposed to public fanfare. We hold most of our celebrations internally. Moreso, the mood of the nation does not warrant that now. The background is that I grew up in the Service. I started as a Cadet Officer, rose through the ranks, and, by God’s grace, I am here. So, I have been part of the system; I therefore acknowledge our challenges and problems. I also know the strengths and weaknesses of the system. Thus, what I have done over the last two years is not different from what I did at every level of leadership I held before now.

In summary, I am building on past managements’ successes, improving on our weaknesses, and developing our strengths. One result I think you can see is, firstly, strict law enforcement, which is one of the things that helps every society. The convictions of terror suspects and other criminal elements so far prove this. Secondly, and quite importantly, is improving cooperation between sister agencies and our foreign allies. I’m sure you must have also noticed that, and then improving the Service’s respect for Human Rights.

Where we commit unavoidable errors, we proactively compensate victims without waiting for litigation. And in cases where the Court has issued an order, we ensure the compensation meets the highest standards of adequacy. For instance, in a N10 million compensation judgment, the person we mistakenly shot deserved more, so we added N10 million to it. We also provided him with fully covered medical treatment. And of course, we are also purging ourselves. We maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards unethical conduct. Such staff are not accommodated in our Service.

We enforce a strict disciplinary process and keep the public duly informed. The idea is to be proactive in addressing misconduct to ensure that ex-staff do not go on to commit crimes in our name. That’s a summary of what I have concentrated on in the past two years.

Kindly tell us about some specific reforms?

The reforms fall into these five broad categories that I mentioned: law enforcement, synergy, accountability in what we do as a Service, respect for Human Rights, and infrastructural/administrative reforms to enhance operational efficiency.

Narrowing to your focus on accountability and human rights, before you came in as DG, the DSS was sort of known for arbitrary arrests and extrajudicial treatment of suspects. Can you speak to the specific actions you took that led to the improvements?

We visibly separated civil matters from criminal matters. My experience through my career path showed that we conflated the two aspects. For instance, and I must thank you in the media for my three awards from IPI, NUJ, BON. You cannot apply the use of force in civil matters.

Even some criminal matters don’t require force; take, for example, the attempt at the establishment of a shadow government, i.e., the Service versus Pat Utomi. Rather than arrest him, we sought judicial interpretation. And the court ruled that his adventure was unconstitutional, illegal, and a threat to national security. So it was with SERAP, which wrongly accused two DSS operatives of invading their premises; they approached the court on my approval. Throughout the process, nobody was arrested, and the court awarded over N100 million in their favour.

The case with the owner of Sahara Reporters, Sowore, is the same. Even from day one when he went to court, the court asked if we objected to his bail, and we said no because we didn’t arrest him in the first place. He was granted bail on self-recognition, so whatever transpired that he violated court process is unrelated to the Service and then the court revoked it but eventually granted him bail with conditions.

So, you now go to court for civil matters?

Yes. I have told my people there should be no arrest on any civil case. And I’m sure you have found out that, even in cases involving journalists, we rather approach the court because we do the same job. I call you our professional colleagues. The only difference is that, while you inform the public, we inform the government. And because we inform the government, our information is classified until we declassify it.

Journalists will disagree when you call them your professional colleagues because, your agency was known for serial violation of press freedom.

You can attest to the fact that not a single journalist has been victimised under my watch. Where any misgivings arose, and I became aware of it, we responded immediately and offered an apology. Like the case of a journalist in Plateau State, I apologised for our staff’s error, and the NUJ president confirmed it. It was one of the reasons they cited for awarding me as NUJ MAN OF THE YEAR, 2026. If for any reason we need to question a journalist, we go through the IPI, the NUJ, or any other relevant body.

But what suddenly changed in the relationship between this agency and the media?

What changed is that I believe civil matters do not require the use of force. We also have a responsibility to protect journalists’ rights so they can do their job. Having been in the system, I have seen many things we could have handled better, and I am bringing those lessons to bear.

Journalists do similar work we do. In some cases, we even rely on them for information, so it makes no sense to use force against them. We can simply call the NUJ President, the IPI, or another relevant body, if there is an infraction because they are known people, not criminals, terrorists, or people hiding in the forest. That is why I decided we must protect journalists and allow them to do their work. Our energy is focused on terrorists and other criminals, not on fighting our partners. Differences can be resolved through dialogue or judicial interpretation.

People are wondering how an agency that was once hostile to the media now enjoys a relationship with it, to the point where you are receiving several honours from media organisations.

As I said earlier, what has changed is our respect for people’s right to do their jobs without hindrance. Our responsibility is to protect those rights. If a journalist publishes an inaccurate report about the Service, my first step is to request a correction, not to make an arrest. We’ve done this on several occasions. For instance, when some media organisations reported that the DSS invaded Lagos State House of Assembly, we demanded a retraction of the story within seven days. When they all complied, we took no further action because that’s the proper civil approach.

The same happened with the report from the Order Paper, which alleged that the DSS was involved in moves to impeach the Senate President. We clarified the facts and requested a retraction. Where there is a refusal, we seek redress through the courts, not arrests. That is the same approach we adopted in cases involving SERAP and Sahara Reporters.

So where are you on SERAP? Is there no way to resolve the matter out of court?

We are very open to conversations if they apologise. We didn’t invade SERAP and the Court has ruled in favour of the two operatives that sued for defamation. They chose to appeal the ruling and we respect their right to do so.

What about the issue of detention?

Let me stress something on this. You see, if I, as leader of this organisation, can tell my staff across the States to apologise when wrong, that must mean something. It is a sign of courage to admit errors, as we are doing, and to pay compensation when a mistake is made without waiting for the court to order us. So when you wrong us, should you grandstand instead of apologising, and turn it into a pity party or false claims of harassment?

Your agency had a reputation for arbitrary arrests and prolonged detention, then releasing those found innocent without any justice or redress. But lately you’ve been paying compensation in several cases. What informed this change in approach?

The simple reason is, you cannot do injury to someone, go on to admit that it was a mistake and then refuse to seek restitution. Even before God, there is room for restitution. Sometimes it is to heal the trauma, to provide the resources to help reintegrate, after we’ve disrupted a life. Most times, we follow up to see how to get the victim back into business. You see, what people hear is initial compensation, like the Jos businessman; we actually went further to set up a business for him, and he is now an employer of others.

What happened to the Jos man really?

He was mistakenly shot, and in 2016, there was a court judgment for the Service to pay compensation of N10 million.

In 2016?

Yes, it happened in 2016. A court had ordered the Service to pay him ?10 million in compensation, but that wasn’t done. I take responsibility and won’t justify what happened then. However, on assuming office as DG, I ordered a review of such cases because I believed we had to correct our past mistakes. As the Yoruba say, ‘when you wake up, that’s your morning.’ It’s never too late to do the right thing.

When I was appointed, the president’s only charge to me was that he expected me to do things differently, respect people’s rights, and uphold the reputation I had built. That guided my decision. Our review showed that, in some cases, we were clearly wrong. Compensation for operational mistakes is not uncommon. Countries such as the UK and others have done the same in similar circumstances. After our medical team assessed his condition and found that his leg had deteriorated significantly, we offered him treatment in our hospital and eventually approved an additional ?10 million to help him rebuild his livelihood. For me, it was about justice, accountability, and strengthening public confidence in the Service.

You call this restorative justice and we learned that your agency has so far paid about N300 million in compensation. You’ve talked about the Jos man; so what are the other cases?

There are several others. In one case, an Abuja-based businesswoman was mistakenly arrested during an operation targeting suspected oil bunkerers. She was simply there to deliver goods. Once investigation confirmed she was innocent, she was paid an initial ?10 million in compensation, and I directed my officers to support in rebuilding her business.

There was also the case of the Ifedi couple arrested before I became DG and detained in Wawa. It was later established they were not terrorists. The woman’s only link was that IPOB members patronised her restaurant, and that was clearly not enough to label her a member. I ordered their release, compensated the professor, and we are discussing how to preserve his late wife’s memory by acquiring the restaurant’s premises and rebuilding it in her honour. Those are just a few examples. There are many other cases across the country, where people who were wrongfully detained have been released and compensated.

One case that received little media attention involved an operation in Cross River State. Our operatives were pursuing a notorious kidnapper who fled into a student area. During the operation, four female students had their phones damaged. When I was briefed, I directed that their phones be replaced immediately. The students insisted they only wanted the repair of the damaged devices, which spoke to their integrity. I also approved scholarships to support their education. For me, that’s the right way to respond when innocent people are affected during legitimate operations.

Was this in addition to their telephones?

Yes. My three children were in universities at sometimes in their lives, and I only imagined how they’d feel seeing people with guns destroying their phones. I know the trauma and decided to do something to ease it. I could list a lot more, but the amount is certainly higher than N300 million. Some don’t get to the press at all.

What is the philosophy behind this restorative justice within an Intelligence agency?

The philosophy is that the Intelligence Community leverages humans as its greatest asset, not only technology. For Intelligence, you need the people. An Intelligence Service that is completely alienated from the people by its conduct might not get the credible information it needs. Much as our activities are not open, we do a lot to endear ourselves to the people. We try to conceal these activities, but some of them still leak.

For instance, our humanitarian outreach across the LGAs targeting the indigent in these areas was not made public. Somehow, one chairman put it out: ‘Look at what the DSS did for our people. We have offices across all 774 local governments, 37 commands. When people are hurting or aggrieved, even if they have information, they might not volunteer it, though they will be ignorantly harming themselves. And that’s why we correct any injustice against people.

Is there a link between that and your recent recruitment drive targeting orphanages?

It’s part of our philosophy that people are our greatest intelligence asset. Human intelligence is more valuable than any technology because people can provide context, answer questions, and be engaged repeatedly in ways machines cannot. That’s why I believe in treating people fairly and correcting injustices. When people trust you, they are more willing to work with you. In security, we summarise it this way: one of the most effective counterterrorism measures is ‘reducing areas of discontent’.

So, are you saying those in orphanage homes are discontented, or is it because you see them as valuable human assets?

No. First and foremost, they are part of our society that can be easily forgotten if care is not taken, so they’re vulnerable. And then, as you rightly said, despite that, they can be very useful, but you can still forget. The ones we’ve had to recruit in the past have done very well for us. I have been doing this before I became DG in every State where I served as State Director. But I remember one of those I recruited; she remained in the orphanage and helped to groom and reorient others to become better citizens.

So, they form part of human asset but if there is no deliberate action to seek them out, they could easily be forgotten. Interestingly, from experience, some of our best brains are from there. It’s what I have done, and now doing at the National level. Again, I don’t know how that got out because I like to do it quietly as i did for 14 years as State Director across 5 States.

So, these people are graduates?

Graduates are recruited into the officer’s cadre, and others are recruited into our junior cadre with a First School Leaving Certificate. Afterwards, they train in the Service.

You’ve been talking about intelligence. Some people see your agency as simply providing intelligence that makes government happy. What will you say to that?

Some people even say we only act after crimes are committed, but much of our intelligence work is classified, so the public never see it. Our job is to provide intelligence to government and sister agencies, including advice on the security implications of policies, not to tell government what it wants to hear. The intelligence helps prevent attacks, rescue victims, identify perpetrators, and make arrests. While many of those successes cannot be disclosed, recent cases, including suspects arrested for planned terrorist attacks, show that preventive intelligence is at work.

If you gather all this intelligence, how come the government does not do enough to stop these attacks from happening?

I want to anchor on the fact that we recognise that attacks are still happening, which tends to diminish our efforts. For instance, somebody whose child was kidnapped doesn’t care if you prevented 200 attacks. For that person, you haven’t achieved anything. Premised on that, I acknowledge we need to do more.

The president keeps urging for the protection of Nigerian lives; he doesn’t forget to caution that ‘Nigerians are in a hurry to celebrate peace.” That’s what is important and we have to do more. But talking specifically about sharing intelligence, what happened to the attacks that were carried out? I’ll first draw your attention to the fact that, all over the world, no one can completely root out crimes one hundred per cent. But we owe it to this generation and those unborn to reduce crimes to the barest minimum.

If we go by those who even started the intelligence business before us, here we are talking of 40 years, you can imagine the global threat levels and how even the most powerful nations on earth are currently grappling with various forms of internal insurgencies, heightened violent crimes, among others. Thus, intelligence all over the world can’t be perfect. I won’t tell you it’s 100 per cent. Secondly, where we get a good percentage of it, there are issues such as capability, terrain, and the need for strategic decision-making. Hence, the presidential actions on State Police, forest guards, are strategic solutions to enable vulnerable communities to defend themselves.

Imagine our closeness to the Sahel and the difficult terrain around the Lake Chad. Imagine the Niger Delta militancy and the challenge of navigating the creeks by regular forces. We have such peculiar problems that require strategic solutions. Take the example of a state with a difficult terrain with its own Police; they know how to deploy. The Federal authority cannot do it fully. So, intelligence is here; difficulties in curbing threats stemming from certain issues also exist.

Will you say that those factors you’ve listed contribute to the inability to provide a swift response? For instance, the Oriire attack in Oyo and the fact that the victims were held for weeks before eventually being rescued. Are the above reasons why that has not been achieved?

What I will tell you is that immediately the incident happened, based on credible intelligence, troops chased them immediately, and sadly, a vigilante and a policeman were killed. During the second raid, more were killed, making a total of nine fatalities, four civilians and five security personnel. It was a complex operation involving a two-and-a-half-year-old infant who cannot run much if we invaded the place.

As expected, the rescue operation attracted a lot of social media disinformation; you have to sieve the information there. I give you an example: while that incident lasted, they were posting deepfake videos of children beaten with lacerations on their bodies. They were actually footage from a particular country on witchcraft-related incidents passed off as real-time crude events here. Recall the victims recounted how well treated they were by the criminals.

One of the things I’d like you to do in the media is fact-finding and separating facts from fiction. Some patriotic Nigerians understood that a soldier was killed, and other lives were lost during the rescue operation and they empathised, having learnt about the nature of the kidnap group – an international terrorist group with links to Al-Qaeda. Citizens ought to know that the incarcerated leaders of the kidnap group who were requested in exchange for the victims were arrested last year by the Service; their arrest helped to prevent high-profile attacks.

These are people found complicit in the Abuja/Kaduna train attack and were planning more kidnappings of foreigners, students, women and their children on a large scale to demand state recognition and freedom to practice their religion somewhere, hence arrest of their leaders proving pro-activeness. The kingpins are the ones now sentenced to life imprisonment; the three other collaborators earned life imprisonment, which the Service will push for stiffer penalty.

How will you assess the working relationship between your agency and other sister agencies in Nigeria and with foreign intelligence partners? Where are gaps and where is cooperation strongest?

Locally, our information/intel sharing is great. Over the decades, we have collaborated with our allies in the US, the UK, France, and many other European countries. After we share our intelligence, we determine where we want the joint boots on the ground. Don’t forget that sometimes around 2000, US soldiers came to join us to deal with some threats. So, it’s very useful.

One of our strengths is that we are very open with ourselves, and get support when we need it; we also support them. So, it’s the openness and frankness that are our greatest strengths. Can it be better? Yes. We will achieve many more feats with the liaison we now share.

Our citizens often misunderstand it, and we must keep educating them.

There is another side to my question, especially about inter-agency rivalry. So how are you navigating?

For me, that has to do with leadership. Anytime you see it happen, it is because a leader encourages it. My operatives know I encourage collaboration and joint operations. I must commend the leadership of all the agencies; we have an excellent working relationship. In fact, it was demonstrated in Oriire, Oyo State; no single agency could claim supreme credit for it. It was jointly achieved, and you saw the GOC when he was giving his brief; he called out every other agency that participated – DSS, Navy, Air Force, Police, NSCDC, vigilante, everybody. When you see rivalry thrive, the leaders encourage that. This crop of leaders, no!

You made a comment earlier about sentencing and obviously about the recent case that the Ansaru leaders were given life imprisonment and you are pushing for death sentence. But I think the problem with capital sentencing is in the carrying out of the executions, we’ve not had one in close to 20 years. Is there an effort to get Mr President to sign the execution of these death sentences?

A nation evolves with its realities. Years ago, when we did not face this level of violence and terrorism, hesitation over signing death warrants may have reflected a different context. Today, with terrorists attacking innocent people in public, the reality has changed. I doubt any responsible authority faced with that level of brutality would refuse to sign.

Okay, so you’ve been getting a lot of convictions. Some life sentences and some death sentences. What are you doing differently?

Diligent prosecution. It is not enough to allege that someone committed a crime; you must prove it. We are strengthening our investigations, evidence gathering, and understanding of offences because justice depends on the facts presented before the court. Even a strong case can fail without convincing facts.

We hear of massive infrastructural developments you have carried out since assumption of office and today, how did you achieve this feat in just two years in office?

From the very first day I assumed office as Director-General, one of my priorities was to provide a befitting and functional working environment for our officers and men. We have completed construction of a new modern office building by Julius Berger to accommodate the expanded Service organogram, requiring additional office space for staff, including the execution of several other welfare and capacity-building projects across the Service:

i. Construction and renovation of Staff Quarters as well as transit accommodation.

ii. Establishment of Creches in State Commands and at the NHSS to support our female staff.

iii. Provision of operational vehicles, surveillance equipment and modern armament; details of which I can’t give.

iv. Upgrade of Sporting Facilities to promote fitness and esprit de corps.

v. Upgrade of the Medical equipment/facilities to improve access to quality healthcare for personnel and their families.

My vision is simple: a modern, professional Service must have infrastructure that matches its mandate. When officers work in an environment that respects their dignity, their productivity and morale naturally improve. The support of the President to us and other Security Agencies has been enormous.

We thank you for agreeing, for the first time, as far as we can recall, to take questions in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the DSS. How has the DSS fared in its 40 years of existence?

By Decree 27 of 1976, after the assassination of the then Head of State, Murtala Muhammed, Gen/retd; National Security Organisation (NSO) was established by Olusegun Obasanjo, en./retd, as the sole domestic and external Intelligence Agency in the Country. Initially composed of part of the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI), E Department (Special Branch) of the Nigeria Police and part of the Federal Ministry of External Affairs, it was split into three by National Security Adviser (NSA) Act of 5th June 1986; Department of State Services (DSS- Fmr E-Department) Domestic; National Intelligence Agency (NIA – Former External Affairs) External, and Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA – Former DMI) Military.

To summarise how we have fared as a Service against the background of the above brief history, three obvious facts suffice: Nigeria still exists and no president has been assassinated again in the last 40 years, and we have practiced 29 years of unbroken democracy. Our Intelligence inputs into achieving these are known to you. However, I must add quickly that, we still have a lot to do, in view of the current security challenges, especially terrorism and other violent crimes.

There should not be ethnic colouration to crime, we cannot criminalise a race or paint a whole ethnic group with one brush. Between 2003 and 2007, we had kidnappings in South-East and South-South. Even recently, there was this viral case of Evans (aka the Billionaire Kidnapper). At a time in Nigeria, there was problem of armed robbery. Remember Ishola Oyenusi, popularly called ‘Dr. Oyenusi,’ was a very notorious armed robber.

After Oyenusi’s execution, Lawrence Anini appeared on the stage. General IBB had to ask then IGP, ‘My friend, where is Anini?’ With him was Monday Osunbor. The point I’m making is that, we met crises in this world. Apart from robbery, there was Maitatsine, Kalakato, etc. One of the problems we hope to solve is ethnic colouration/politicisation of insecurity. A criminal should be treated as one, irrespective of his colour, race or religion.

Boko Haram started around 1998, but their Jihad started during the Administration of late President Umaru Yar’Adua. The problems in Benue and Plateau States are age-long. It started as dispute over access to land resources between native farmers, most of whom are Christians, and their Fulani neighbours, majority of whom incidentally are Muslims. Overtime, local criminal groups, including terrorists who pledged allegiance to International Terrorist Organizations got involved, mainly to further their sinister agenda.

In your overview, you said something fundamental, that we all seem to forget that we all live among each other. As we have Yoruba and Igbo who were born and live in Sokoto, Plateau, and other parts of the North, likewise Ebira, Kanuri, and Fulani people born and living among Yoruba, Igbo, etc., in the South. It seems that at a point there was a paradigm shift, especially under the last Administration. A particular tribe, was perceived to be the most involved in crimes, especially kidnapping for ransom, in addition to land-grabbing. When and how did they become audacious?

A Country should institutionalise its Justice System to the extent that, we fish out criminals and punish them in accordance with the Laws of the Land.

I agree that the attention should always be on solving problems. I’m from Oyo North, and I grew up there. I remember there were Fulanis around us. So, what radicalised them? What has changed?

What has changed is the loss of our values. I am happy you said we all grew up together. You said you were living with them in those villages, in the bush. At that time, some form of governance was extended to those remote areas: ‘Native Authorities’, the Regional Forest Guard Law of 1956, then the State Controlled Land Use Act and Forests Act of 1978. However, today there is no presence of governance in those places, leaving them as ungoverned spaces for criminals to keep victims of kidnap. Hence the resuscitation of Forest Guards.

Let me tell you one of our findings during an investigation of herders and local farmers’ clash: a group of community youths had offered some nomads a piece of land to graze their livestock for a fee of N70,000, only for the real owners of the land to appear and attack the nomads, who managed to escape and abandoned their herds, which were slaughtered and shared across the community. You can’t believe that the irrational and evil-minded nomads in turn, returned to invade the community and killed human beings in retaliation for ‘animals.’

See what we have degenerated into!. In a situation where every facet of our lives has degenerated, security, hospitals, schools, markets, etc, we need attitudinal change and a total rebirth. Can you imagine one of our own operatives pursuing ethnic agenda? That’s why we are purging ourselves and publishing the names of dismissed staff, because they still defraud innocent citizens who do not know they are no longer with us. You too, be an investigative journalist, instead of one-sided sensational storytelling.

As for Sunday Igboho, you know I have been a strong advocate of community policing, but you need government approval, training, and supervision; otherwise, it would amount to taking the laws into your own hands.

Now you also said someone has 30 GPMGs. That’s all over the country: North and South. Over decades, we have allowed this, including disarming security agencies and even outright stealing from government security agencies’ armouries by unscrupulous operatives. So, what government needs for rebirth is strict law enforcement: that is why we, as a Service, are now focused on convictions rather than mere arraignments. We have seven death sentences, (four in Owo case, as well as one each, in Kogi, Katsina and Sokoto) as well as those jailed for between 20 and 40 years. There must be accountability.

We are also disrupting their supply chains and you must have seen the interceptions/recoveries of 676 sophisticated firearms and 332,874 rounds of different calibre of ammunition from 29th May 2023 to date. The military, Police and other sister Agencies have also made significant recoveries but we need to do more.

Nigeria’s security has been mismanaged over time by politicians who played politics with it, has politics not damaged Nigeria, also, is there really a Fulani agenda to take over Nigeria?

Politics has not ruined Nigeria, it is only bad politicians in pursuit of their ambitions, who threaten the stability of Nigeria, and that’s where you come in. I enjoin you to support the ‘United Against Terror’ Campaign – to fight bad politics. Whoever started it is a good Nigerian, because that’s the way to defeat terrorists, who thrive on ‘free publicity’. The success of one encourages another. So, once we unite against insurgency, terrorism and other forms of criminality, politicians can no longer exploit them to further their selfish motives.

Now, is there a Fulani agenda to take over Nigeria? Among the terrorist groups, we have Ebira, Fulani, Igbo, Kanuri, Yoruba, etc, among the ones we arrested in the past and recently. Remember, there are diverse motivations for insurgency: religion, ethnicity, economy and politics. The notoriety of some criminals of Fulani extraction stems from the activities of some itinerant herders who destroy farms and cause communal conflicts.

As your tenure advances, what are the top priorities citizens should expect from you to consolidate on the ongoing reforms and successes?

I quote the President again: ‘Nigerians are in a hurry to celebrate peace.’ What they should expect from us is that the fight against terror, especially with strict enforcement of the law, would be strengthened. We will work more with the people. That’s why I want to again commend whoever initiated the hashtag #UniteAgainstTerror; though, I first heard it on Seun Okinbaloye’s ‘Politics Today’ We need the people. As patriotic citizens, we must collectively put pressure on evildoers, showing clearly that we will not harbour evil. We need the cooperation and understanding of the people.

The turning point will be when we agree to face our common enemies, criminalise them, demonise them. The media must also strengthen its trust in the Government and ensure reportage that projects hope and effort, rather than fall into the temptation to serve as mouthpieces for terror elements. We will do our part; I urge you to do your own. Do not amplify the success of terrorists or other criminals, while we security Agencies intensify efforts to protect the internal security of Nigeria.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, has warned parents, teachers, school proprietors, principals, invigilators and students against examination malpractice, which threatens the quality of education delivery in the country.

He, however, announced measures by the Federal Government to strengthen examination integrity, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to restoring standards and repositioning Nigeria’s education system.

The Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister, Mr. Ikharo Attah, said in a statement on Thursday that Alausa gave the warning at a meeting with the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) and other stakeholders in the education sector.

He said examination malpractice had become deeply entrenched, creating an unfair environment for students who prepare honestly for their examinations.

He noted that the practice not only distorts results but also disadvantages hardworking students and undermines confidence in the qualifications awarded by the nation’s education system.

The Minister stressed that tackling the problem requires collective responsibility across the education system, noting that students are not the only actors involved in examination malpractice.

He, therefore, called on parents, teachers, proprietors, principals, invigilators and other stakeholders to uphold examination rules, provide the right learning environment and discourage practices that give candidates unfair access to examination materials.

Alausa said the Federal Government was strengthening examination administration to make public examinations more secure and ensure that results reflect genuine learning and merit.

He added that the measures form part of the wider education sector reforms of the Tinubu administration, aimed at improving standards, strengthening accountability and rebuilding trust in Nigeria’s assessment system.

Alausa assured stakeholders that the Federal Government would continue to work with private schools, examination bodies and other partners to strengthen the credibility of Nigeria’s examination system.

He said the administration remained committed to protecting the interests of genuine learners and building an education system where academic qualifications are earned through knowledge, hard work and merit.

Also speaking, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, urged private school proprietors and other stakeholders to support the reforms, noting that stronger examination controls could initially expose gaps in students’ actual preparation.

She explained that some students who perform exceptionally well in internal examinations may have become accustomed to accessing leaked questions ahead of external examinations, leaving them less prepared when such avenues are closed.

Ahmad said the introduction of serialised examination questions would make reliance on leaked materials more difficult and reinforce the need for students to prepare genuinely for examinations.

She urged schools to complete the curriculum on schedule and encourage consistent study, while assuring private education stakeholders that the Ministry would continue to engage with and support them throughout the implementation of the reforms.

She said the ultimate goal was to ensure that examination results provide a credible measure of students’ knowledge and abilities.

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, Fisayo Ajisafe, has defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), citing the development agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration and the lingering crisis in the PDP.

Ajisafe, a prominent PDP leader and grassroots mobiliser in Ifedore Local Government Area, announced his defection on Thursday, saying the internal challenges in the opposition party had constrained his ability to effectively serve his constituents.

He said he decided to join the APC to identify with what he described as the ‘moving train’ and contribute to the implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

‘I have decided to join the moving train and continue to get involved in the Renewed Hope agenda of our President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,’ he said.

Ajisafe said the growing strength of the APC across the state also influenced his decision, expressing confidence that the party would perform strongly in future elections.

He said his political experience and grassroots support would be deployed to strengthen the APC and mobilise support for the party.

Ajisafe also urged members of opposition parties to join the APC, describing it as a progressive platform capable of moving the country forward and addressing insecurity.

He said his defection would have political implications for the PDP in his federal constituency, where he claimed to have played a significant role in opposition politics.

Ajisafe further commended the administration of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, citing ongoing road projects, including the Orita-obele-Ijare-Ikota road, as evidence of the APC government’s development efforts.

‘The APC government is doing very well, and I appreciate what it is doing for our people,’ he said.

Speaking on Ajisafe’s defection, at his political ward in Ikota, the immediate past state chairman of the party, Engr. Ade Adetimehin, described him as a respected grassroots mobiliser and progressive-minded leader.

Adetimehin, who was accompanied by other party leaders, expressed confidence that Ajisafe would make meaningful contributions to the growth and unity of the APC.

He described the defection as timely and strategic, assuring Ajisafe of equal opportunities and full integration into the party structure.

Adetimehin urged party members to remain committed to President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, expressing confidence that Ondo State would deliver more than one million votes for the President in the 2027 election.

He added that the APC remained committed to strengthening its unity and welcoming progressives willing to contribute to the party’s success and the development of Ondo State.

The Federal Operations Unit, Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Thursday handed over illicit drugs worth N3.9bn alongside three suspects to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Lagos State, and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).

Speaking during the handing over, the Comptroller of the Unit, Aliyu Gambo said that the illicit movement of Cannabis Sativa and other controlled substances poses a serious threat to public health, national security and the future of young people within Nigeria’s South-West region.

According to Comptroller Aliyu Gambo, ‘Today’s event is a practical demonstration of the commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service to national security, public health, environmental safety and the economic well-being of Nigerians.

‘It also reflects the importance of Strategic Partnership in the fight against smuggling and other forms of transborder crime.

‘The Psychotropic Substance being handed over today were intercepted and seized by the gallant officers and men of this unit during our sustained anti-smuggling operations along the boarder corridor , highways, and other strategic locations within our area of responsibility (AOR).

‘Our recent decisive enforcement action was deliberate against drugs trafficking syndicates in the Zone, and this effort led to the interceptions of the following: 5, 669 parcels, and 19 sacks of synthetic strain of cannabis sativa weighing 3,116.9KG; 31/2 packs of Grinded Cannabis (SKUNK) weighing 3.45kg; 2 packs of Granula Cannabis (SKUNK) weighing 1kg; 11 small packs of Granula Cannabis (SKUNK) weighing 0.35kg; 24 packets of backwoods Russian Cream Cigars weighing 0.5g; 49 wraps of Cannabis (SKUNK) weighing 26.1kg; 1 wrap of Crystal Methamphetamine weighing 0.35kg.

‘All these are being formally handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and other necessary action in accordance with its statutory mandate.

‘Other items also being handed over include, 1,754 packs and 6, 948 sachet of 225mg, 100mg of Tramadol Tablets, 1200 Hypnox Tablets 1mg, and 97 bottles of Codeine Syrup.

‘The Nigeria Customs Service, through strengthening the integrity of the supply chain would continue to support the efforts of the NDLEA by disrupting the movement of narcotic drugs and illicit goods across Nigeria’s borders.

‘We are equally committed to providing relevant information and supporting further investigation whenever necessary. The formal transfer of these items to the NDLEA will enable the Agency to conduct the appropriate forensic, investigative and prosecutorial processes in accordance with the law. It will also ensure that the seized narcotics are handled, stored and disposed of in a secure and professionally regulated manner.

‘In a similar vein, our vigilant officers also intercepted and seized four Cylinders of a Chemical weighing 34.5kg each confirmed to be high grade MERCURY that is used in small scale for illegal mining of GOLD.

‘This item has dual purposes, it has significant environmental hazards and it is controlled by MINAMATA CONVENTION. The chemicals will be handed over to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) which is the appropriate environmental regulatory competence for further agency actions.

‘The seized narcotics has a street value of N3,951.085,000, and three suspects arrested in connection with the seizures will be handed along side with the narcotics substances.

‘This event underscores the fact that no single agency can effectively confront the complex nature of contemporary smuggling and trans-border criminality alone. Our collaboration must therefore continue through information sharing, joint operations, coordinated intelligence, capacity building and prompt transfer of items that fall within the jurisdiction of partner agencies.

‘I wish to commend the leadership and personnel of the NDLEA and NESREA for their cooperation and professionalism. I also appreciate the support of all sister security and regulatory agencies whose contributions continue to strengthen our collective efforts.

‘Let me reiterate that the Federal Operations Unit will not relent in its responsibilities. We will continue to deploy intelligence-driven strategies, enhanced surveillance, effective patrols and robust enforcement operations to disrupt the activities of smugglers and criminal networks.

‘Our men have continued to maintain the highest standards of professionalism, integrity and respect for the law in the discharge of their duties. We shall continue to facilitate legitimate trade while firmly preventing the movement of prohibited, harmful and improperly regulated goods. The fight against narcotics trafficking, environmental crimes and other forms of smuggling is a collective responsibility.

‘We remain committed to protecting Nigeria’s borders, safeguarding the lives and well-being of our citizens and supporting the enforcement of all laws governing the movement of goods into and out of the country.’

Recent cancer-related deaths in Nollywood have exposed the wider challenges confronting cancer patients in Nigeria, including late diagnosis, high treatment costs, and limited access to specialist care, physician and public health advocate Dr Zainab Suleiman Buhari has said.

Buhari, in a special report on cancer in Nigeria, said the death of veteran actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, actress Atinuke Remilekun Kareem and actress and producer Tope Osoba had brought renewed attention to the challenges confronting cancer patients across the country.

She said the cancer deaths in Nollywood reflected a wider public health crisis, noting that cancer was increasingly affecting Nigerians across different social and economic backgrounds.

According to her, the major challenges confronting cancer patients in Nigeria include late presentation, the high cost of treatment and limited access to specialist care.

She noted that many patients delay seeking medical attention because of fear, cost, stigma or reliance on alternative remedies, while delays within the healthcare system could also arise from limited screening services, misdiagnosis and long waiting periods for biopsies and scans.

Buhari said the result was that many patients reached oncology specialists only after the disease had advanced significantly.

She cited the case of Tope Osoba, who reportedly said in interviews that a breast lump was initially attributed to childbearing changes before she insisted on further tests.

She also referred to Ogogo’s case, noting that his family had disclosed that his condition had advanced to the point where chemotherapy was no longer an option.

The physician further highlighted the financial burden of cancer treatment, citing Kareem’s public appeal for financial assistance before her death.

Kareem had said her family had spent substantial amounts on her treatment and that the assistance she received from the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN) was insufficient.

‘My family has spent a lot of money… TAMPAN has tried too, but it’s not enough,’ Kareem said in the video.

She also appealed to Nigerians for assistance, saying she had two young children.

Buhari said chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, targeted therapies and supportive care could collectively cost millions of naira, placing considerable financial pressure on families.

She noted that although the National Health Insurance Authority had expanded coverage for aspects of cancer care, many Nigerians remained exposed to significant out-of-pocket expenses.

On access to specialist care, Buhari said Nigeria continued to face gaps in cancer treatment infrastructure, including radiotherapy equipment and specialist services.

She said the concentration of specialised facilities in a few urban centres often forced patients from other parts of the country to travel long distances for treatment, creating additional costs for transportation and accommodation.

Cancer burden

Buhari cited GLOBOCAN 2022 estimates, which put Nigeria’s annual cancer burden at about 127,763 new cases and 79,542 deaths.

She said breast, cervical, prostate and colorectal cancers were among the most common cancers affecting Nigerians.

According to her, the figures showed that the cancer burden extended far beyond the entertainment industry, with thousands of ordinary Nigerians battling the disease without attracting public attention.

‘Cancer often develops silently, with symptoms appearing only after the disease has progressed. This makes awareness, prevention, screening and early diagnosis particularly important,’ she said.

She urged Nigerians to seek medical attention when they notice persistent or unusual changes in their bodies instead of self-medicating or relying solely on unverified remedies.

She identified persistent lumps in the breast, armpit, neck or groin; unexplained bleeding; persistent cough or hoarseness; changes in bowel or bladder habits; and unexplained weight loss as some warning signs that should not be ignored.

Call for improved cancer care

Buhari called on governments at all levels to invest more in cancer infrastructure and expand access to radiotherapy machines, pathology laboratories, diagnostic facilities and essential cancer medicines.

She also urged the government to expand health insurance coverage and strengthen primary healthcare facilities to enable healthcare workers to recognise cancer warning signs and make timely referrals.

She said private organisations, non-governmental organisations and the media could complement government efforts through screening programmes, public education campaigns, workplace health initiatives and information dissemination in local languages.

Buhari also called for greater efforts to tackle the stigma surrounding cancer, noting that some Nigerians still attributed the disease to spiritual causes or regarded a cancer diagnosis as an automatic death sentence.

She said the experiences of public figures who openly discussed their battles with cancer could help encourage more Nigerians to seek early medical attention.

As the entertainment industry continues to mourn its latest cancer victims, Buhari urged Nigerians not to wait until symptoms became severe before seeking medical care.

She said the cancer deaths in Nollywood should serve as a reminder of the need for greater awareness, early detection, affordable treatment and stronger cancer care infrastructure across Nigeria.

The Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), Mohammed Ibrahim, has called for a new financial architecture that coordinates public, private and concessional capital to accelerate Africa’s food systems transformation and implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).

Ibrahim spoke during the Policy and State Capability Thematic Plenary: ‘Aligning Investment to Fast-Track CAADP Objectives’ at the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) in Kigali, Rwanda.

He said African countries must move beyond conventional funding of agricultural programmes towards structured financing systems that align investments with national priorities, de-risk projects and attract greater private-sector capital.

‘We’re continuously trying to move from just funding to a financial architecture,’ Ibrahim said.

He explained that NADF’s approach focuses on identifying national priorities, developing credible investment opportunities and strategically deploying concessional and public resources to catalyse additional financing.

According to him, Africa’s agricultural financing challenge is not only about the availability of capital, but also the fragmentation of existing resources and the absence of effective structures to coordinate investments.

‘We want to see that we are coordinating financial capital because there is sometimes a problem of capital availability, but also fragmentation of capital – that lack of a structure,’ he said.

Ibrahim said NADF is working to address these gaps by de-risking agricultural investments and building credible, bankable project pipelines capable of attracting private-sector financing.

He stressed that public resources should be strategically deployed to ‘crowd in, not crowd out’ private investment, noting that the absence of commercially viable projects remains a major constraint to mobilising capital.

‘If we do not have credible pipelines or the right projects that would attract private capital, then what do we do?’ he asked.

The NADF Boss also called for stronger data and accountability systems to improve investment decisions and ensure agricultural financing delivers measurable benefits, particularly for smallholder farmers.

‘The first is that we are strengthening data for investment decisions. No investment decision is made without looking at the data and what it shows,’ he said.

Ibrahim advocated a shift from measuring agricultural interventions by the amount of money spent to assessing their actual impact.

‘We are pushing for a transition towards accountability for outcomes. So, what has that money changed on the ground?’ he said.

He said success should be measured not only by increased yields, but also by improvements in farmer profitability, participation in agricultural value chains, resilience and livelihoods.

Ibrahim further advocated independent monitoring, evaluation and learning systems to determine what works, identify gaps and generate evidence for scaling successful interventions.

Also speaking, Ana Maria Loboguerrero, Director of Adaptive and Equitable Food Systems at the Gates Foundation, said philanthropic capital could play a catalytic role by providing patient, higher-risk financing for innovative agricultural solutions before commercial investors enter.

She said such financing could generate evidence, strengthen public-sector capabilities and reduce risks, ultimately making agricultural investments more attractive to commercial capital.

Participants agreed that achieving CAADP objectives would require more than increased funding, stressing that coordinated financing, credible investment pipelines, stronger accountability and effective alignment between public policy and private capital are essential to translating commitments into measurable improvements in productivity, resilience, nutrition, inclusion and regional trade.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited said it has remitted a total of ?7.913 trillion in statutory payments to the Federal Government between January and July 2026.

This was contained in the company’s July performance report released on Wednesday.

According to the report, the monthly payments rose to N1.63 trillion in July from N1.43 trillion in June, bringing the total remittance between January and July to N7.91 trillion.

The figures underscore the state oil firm’s continued commercial viability and operational progress in the upstream and midstream sectors.

The increase in federation payments comes amid the implementation of Executive Order 9, signed by President Bola Tinubu earlier in 2026.

The order removed NNPCL’s previous authority to deduct certain statutory obligations at source, including the 30 per cent Frontier Exploration Fund and 30 per cent management fees.

The July report showed that the recorded a 48 percent decline in profit after tax in July, as lower crude oil sales and weaker gas output reduced its financial performance during the month.

NNPCL’s profit after tax fell to N279bn in July from N535bn recorded in June, while revenue dropped by 31.5 per cent from N4.38trn to N3trn.

The company’s July performance, it was gathered affected by a decline in crude oil sales, which fell to 21 million barrels during the month.

NNPCL attributed the reduction in crude volumes to several operational challenges, including facility outages, equipment unavailability, pipeline incidents, and other production constraints affecting its operations.

According to the July report, crude oil and condensate daily production stood at 1.68 million barrels per day (mmbopd).

The company’s gas business also recorded a decline during the month. Gas sales fell to 4,581 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/d) in July from 4,970mmscf/d in June, while gas production stood at 7,489mmscf/d.

The report also showed that Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) availability across NNPC Retail Limited (NRL) stood 52 percent in July 2026.

The highlights show that upstream pipeline availability achieved a 100 per cent operational uptime rate across network infrastructure.

Construction on the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) gas pipeline project achieved full completion at 100 per cent, the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline project reached 95 per cent completion, nearing its final operational milestone.

On strategic efforts, NNPCL said it is implementing measures aimed at recovering production and improving operational reliability following the decline recorded in July.

The company plans to strengthen preventive maintenance, reduce unplanned downtime and improve the reliability of key production facilities.

It also identified efforts to optimise exports at the Forcados Export Platform and Nembe Export Project, alongside the development of incremental production opportunities, as part of its recovery strategy.

NNPCL further plans to improve crude evacuation through tandem offloading operations at the Akpo and Erha fields and the restoration of barging operations at Obodo.

The Federal Government on Thursday disclosed that Nigeria is moving towards an efficient, integrated transport system that would contribute to the economic growth of the nation.

Speaking in Abuja while unveiling Nigeria’s first National Land Transport Policy, the Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima, said transportation remained central to the nation’s economy because it connects workers, families, businesses, markets and communities.

He explained that the current administration was determined to provide infrastructure capable of supporting a productive, competitive and interconnected economy.

Represented at the event by the Special Adviser on General Duties, Aliyu Modibbo Umar, Shettima stated that the government’s approach was shifting from the development of isolated transportation projects to the creation of an integrated national network in which roads, railways, ports, inland waterways and aviation complement one another.

He said the objective was to ensure that transport infrastructure connected production centres with markets, ports and consumers, while improving the movement of people and goods across the country.

In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Olufunso Adebiyi, said integration meant ensuring that Nigeria’s different modes of transportation did not develop independently but functioned as components of a single national system.

‘Our efforts are equally focused on connecting transportation infrastructure to the nation’s economic gateways. The rail connection to Apapa Port has provided an important foundation for efficient cargo evacuation, while the Ministry is pursuing further connectivity to Tin Can Island and other strategic port and industrial locations.

‘The emerging development around the Lekki axis and its proposed connections to the national railway network will further strengthen the relationship between ports, industrial centres and the wider transportation system,’ he stated.

Also speaking at the event, the House Committee Chairman on Land Transport, Hon. Blessing Onuh, noted that transport was not just about roads, rail lines, terminals or vehicles.

‘It is about people, commerce and opportunities.

‘It is about whether a farmer can move produce to market without losing half of it on the way. Whether a worker can get to work without spending hours in traffic. Whether businesses can move goods across the country efficiently and at a reasonable cost.

‘That is why integration matters. Nigeria already has roads, rail, waterways and aviation. We must give the same attention given to the rehabilitation of roads to our railways, as moving more heavy-duty and bulk goods by rail will reduce pressure on our highways, extend the lifespan of our roads, improve safety and lower long-term maintenance costs.

‘I assure you that the National Assembly stands ready to provide the necessary legislative support and effective oversight required to move this policy from paper to practice.

‘Nigeria needs a transport system where road and rail reinforce one another, where goods move efficiently, where citizens travel safely and where public investment delivers long-term value. That is the system this policy must help us build,’ she stated.

The Minister of Defence, Gen Christopher Musa (retd), has said that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is prioritising national security to safeguard Nigeria’s sovereignty, preserve democratic institutions and promote national development.

Gen Musa stated this on Thursday while speaking at the 2nd Policy Colloquium 2026, held under the theme, ‘Securing the Sovereign Frontier: Strategic Defence Architecture, Emerging Technologies and Democratic Integrity in Nigeria.’

The Minister said President Tinubu had consistently reaffirmed the Federal Government’s resolve to strengthen national security and provide the Armed Forces with the capabilities required to protect the country.

According to him, ‘this strategic direction recognises that a secure and stable Nigeria is essential to the protection of our sovereignty, the preservation of our democratic institutions and the advancement of national development.

‘In line with this priority, the Ministry of Defence remains focused on strengthening defence capabilities, advancing military modernisation and ensuring that the Armed Forces are adequately positioned to respond to the demands of the security environment,’

Gen Musa noted that Nigeria’s strategic frontier was increasingly being shaped by security challenges across the land, maritime, air and cyber domains.

He said addressing the challenges required a more integrated defence posture, supported by effective intelligence coordination, joint operations and interoperability among the Armed Forces and other relevant security institutions.

According to him, ‘our defence architecture must remain agile and forward-looking, with the capacity to anticipate threats, respond decisively and protect Nigeria’s territorial integrity and vital national interest’

Gen Musa also identified technology as an increasingly decisive factor in defence and national security, noting that rapid advances in artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, surveillance and reconnaissance, cyber capabilities and other emerging technologies were transforming military operations and the strategic environment.

He said Nigeria must remain at the forefront of these developments by investing in relevant technologies and strengthening the human, doctrinal and institutional capacity required to integrate them into the country’s defence capabilities.

This came just as the Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Chief Sunday Dare, said that the withdrawal of some West African countries from the Economic Community of West African States in 2023 blunted key regional integration protocols, particularly those promoting the free movement of goods and services.

Chief Dare, who stated this while speaking on border management and regional cooperation at the occasion, pointed out that the development created a major regional crisis and undermined existing mechanisms for economic integration and regional cooperation.

He noted that the effectiveness of borders had implications not only for economic activities but also for regional security.

According to him, ‘the rupture that came in 2025 when the countries pulled out of ECOWAS created a major regional crisis. That pullout from ECOWAS simply blunted the ECOWAS protocol that promoted integration, free movement of goods and services,’ Dare said.

‘It eventually led to the creation of AES, another counter-regional body to ECOWAS. But it also challenged the other instruments and protocols that we have for regional cooperation,’

Chief Dare linked effective border management to both economic integration and regional security, stressing that borders served as the frontline for protecting regional stability.

‘My research, which bordered at one and the same time the opportunity of regional cooperation, but also it serves as the front line for regional security,’ he said.

He added that proper border management could facilitate economic integration, while poor management could contribute to instability.

Chief Dare also dismissed claims that Nigeria’s borders were closed, warning politicians against turning border security into an issue for electoral campaigns.

‘The Interior Minister has stated the facts. Nigeria’s borders are open. And let me say for a fact, when it comes to the stability of our borders, when it comes to security, it should not be an arena of politicking or an arena to seek votes or to score cheap political points’

The presidential aide stressed that open borders did not mean uncontrolled borders, noting that immigration, customs and other security agencies remained responsible for regulating movements across the country’s borders.

‘Our borders are critical. There are no open borders without controls. So you must understand there is a distinction,’ Dare said.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Special Adviser to the Minister of Defence on Media, Leah Katung-Babatunde, said the Policy Colloquium was conceived to serve as a rigorous, non-partisan bridge-bringing together defence strategists, policy architects, technologists, civil society leaders, academics, the media and key state actors under one roof.

According to her, ‘We are not assembled here today merely to catalog challenges, but to forge actionable pathways, inform public policy, and construct a practical blueprint for national resilience,’ she said.

ONE of the most recurring problems confronting Nigeria since independence is not simply the failure of government policies, but the growing distance between government and the people it governs. Over the decades, Nigerians have witnessed military coups, prolonged military rule, democratic transitions, policy reversals, economic hardship, corruption scandals and governance failures. Each has chipped away public confidence until today, the trust deficit now runs so deep that even well-intentioned policies are received with suspicion. This is why strategic communication must become a central component of governance in Nigeria, not an afterthought activated only when a policy is announced, a controversy erupts, or government needs to respond to criticism. Public communication must be deliberate, continuous, and built into the policy process from the beginning. The recent controversy surrounding Nigeria’s tax reform is a useful example. Before the situation eventually calmed, the debate generated considerable anxiety, particularly in Northern Nigeria. Prominent northern figures and political juggernaut, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum and former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, raised concerns about the potential consequences of the reform for a region already battling poverty, insecurity and economic disadvantage.

The concerns grew intense enough to trigger opposition from 19 northern governors and 73 northern lawmakers, and at one point the House of Representatives suspended debate on the Tax Reform Bills after their initial scheduling for consideration. Beyond the political disagreement, however, another problem emerged: a communication vacuum. As the debate continued, rumours and misconceptions spread rapidly, especially on the new media. Claims that the reforms would impose unbearable tax burdens circulated widely, alongside fears that government would acquire powers to debit citizens’ bank accounts at will. Several of these claims were later debunked, but the most important lesson from the episode is this: misinformation thrives where credible information is absent, insufficient, or arrives too late. In my experience managing public perception for government, politicians and public institutions, one recurring weakness stands out. Many government agencies still approach communication as publicity, rather than as an integral part of governance. The emphasis falls on issuing statements, announcing programmes, distributing press releases and organising occasional briefings. These things are necessary, but they are not the same as strategic communication. A press release tells people what government has done. Strategic communication explains why it was done, how it affects them, what they should expect, and where they can seek clarification. That distinction is critical.

Government agencies must also accept that citizens no longer depend on traditional media alone. A government announcement now competes with WhatsApp messages, Facebook posts, X conversations, TikTok videos, blogs, influencer skits, conjectures through anonymous account and countless uninformed online comments. Information travels faster than official responses. An agency that waits until a controversy becomes a crisis before explaining its policy has already surrendered valuable ground to rumour. The tax reform experience demonstrated this clearly. The eventual intervention and clarification from those responsible helped correct several misconceptions, and opening the conversation to the media and influencers took the explanation beyond the standard press release. But that approach should not have become necessary only after the controversy had escalated. The questions and concerns should have been anticipated before the reforms were unveiled. That is what strategic communication demands. Since the beginning of the Fourth Republic, Nigeria has created numerous ministries, departments, agencies and parastatals across all tiers of government. Yet comparatively little attention has been paid to developing long-term communication strategies capable of rebuilding trust. Too often, communication units are treated as administrative departments rather than strategic components of governance. The consequence is predictable: an agency announces a policy, citizens ask questions, social media fills the gap, rumours spread, critics seize the narrative, and the agency eventually organises a press conference to explain itself.

By then, public perception has often already hardened. Government must move from this reactive model to a proactive one. Communication should begin before a policy is announced. Citizens should be told what problem government is trying to solve, why a particular approach was chosen, what the policy will cost, who will benefit, what the possible disadvantages are, and what safeguards are in place. People may still disagree after a proper explanation, but disagreement based on accurate information is fundamentally different from opposition driven by misinformation. Officials in government circles are quick to blame social media for misinformation, but misinformation has no life of its own. It thrives where there is a communication gap. Where citizens cannot obtain clear and timely information from an official source, they will naturally turn elsewhere. Agencies must therefore recognise that communication is not merely about defending government; it is about giving citizens enough reliable information to understand government.

A press release alone cannot explain a complex policy to millions of Nigerians. Agencies should be producing explanatory videos, frequently asked questions, infographics, town-hall conversations, radio programmes, television discussions, social media content and direct engagement with affected communities and social strata, as the case may be. The Federal Government and other tiers should go further and develop a deliberate Public Trust and Strategic Communication blueprint: a framework requiring agencies to identify their major stakeholders, anticipate likely public concerns, develop communication plans before policies launch, establish highly efficient mechanisms for receiving and responding to feedback, and set clear standards for crisis communication. Most importantly, communication must be consistent.

Trust cannot be built through one press conference, restored through one television appearance, or manufactured through publicity. It accumulates gradually when citizens repeatedly receive accurate information, watch government explain its decisions, and see institutions acknowledge mistakes when they occur. Finally, government agencies must rethink their relationship with journalists. The media’s responsibility is to hold government accountable, and a healthy working relationship should never reduce journalists to cheerleaders. When journalists have access to accurate information, data, documents and knowledgeable officials, they report policies more accurately and challenge government more effectively.

Government should see the media as an essential part of the communication ecosystem, not merely an audience for press releases. The distance between government and the governed will not close on its own. It closes only when those in power decide that being understood is as important as being obeyed and communicate accordingly, consistently, and before the questions are asked.