On 30th July, 2026, the Ministry of Defence convened the maiden South East Regional Security Summit in Umuahia, Abia State to explore and adopt various non-kinetic strategies in addressing the security concerns in the South East region. It was the first in the series lined up for all the geopolitical zones in the country. The decision to kickstart the campaign in the South East was strategic and borne out of the need to send a strong message to those behind the insecurity in the region that moving forward in the South East, it would be a regime of ‘Udo adawala n’ala Igbo’ (Peace is being restored in Igboland). These were my thoughts, and they came from a deep commitment to the security of lives and property in the South East.
We elected to start with the South East because it is a region that holds great prospects for the country, and also due to the fact that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is passionate and committed to entrenching sustainable peace and tranquillity in the region beyond the ongoing infrastructural projects. The need to ensure that the region remains peaceful for sustainable growth and development was not lost on us at the Ministry of Defence.
The theme of the summit was ‘Collaborative Approaches to Strengthening Regional Security and Stability.’ This was evocative and corroborated the maxim that ‘two heads are better than one’ and that winning the war against insecurity requires a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic strategies. I was impressed with the attendance list, which ranged from traditional rulers, political administrators, clergy, unions, youth groups, security and intelligence operatives, teachers, students, artisans, and others, including veterans from the region.
I was impressed with the various presentations at the summit. I identified an uncommon commitment from the audience. The conversations centred around the way forward. The summit also afforded me the opportunity to have a first-hand understanding of the dynamics at play in the region regarding security challenges. As the Minister of Defence, it indeed placed me on a pedestal of greater understanding that will shape future defence policies in the country. This is a pledge.
Lessons from the Elders
My boss, mentor, and father, General Ike Omar Sanda Nwachukwu, GCMG, CFR, COM, psc+, mni, finiia, among others, availed us of his esteemed presence at the summit. His presentation indeed touched on the very essence of collaborative approaches to strengthening regional security and stability. My takeaway from his presentation was that ‘military force is indispensable, but military force alone has never permanently solved a political, economic, or social problem.’ He also highlighted that security cannot remain the exclusive responsibility of the Armed Forces or other security agencies. Security succeeds when citizens become participants rather than spectators. I thank General Nwachukwu for taking time out of his revered schedule to attend the summit. It was highly appreciated.
My boss and former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Onyeabo Azubuike Ihejirika, CFR, indeed put a smile on my face with his presence and the quality of his presentation as the keynote speaker. In his characteristic manner, he spoke eloquently on the necessity that ‘institutional success should be measured not only by operational achievements, but also by whether citizens experience greater freedom, confidence, and predictability in their daily lives. Delivering such outcomes, however, requires a clear understanding of the threats, networks, and conditions that continue to disrupt normal activity across the region.’
He capped his presentation with a nugget: ‘For collaboration to produce meaningful results, it must therefore begin with a shared and accurate understanding of the threat. Without a common diagnosis, institutions may pursue conflicting priorities, duplicate effort, or apply responses that fail to address the underlying problem.’ This was a very clear message that was received wholeheartedly. I wish to use this medium to extend my heartfelt gratitude to him for his presence.
I must not fail to mention that my brother and friend, Dr. Alex Otti, the Executive Governor of Abia State, was such a wonderful host. He was very instrumental to the success of the summit. His contributions were vital, and his presence from the beginning to the end of the programme was reassuring that he is a worthy partner in progress in our quest to achieve regional stability in the South East. Also, the representatives of other governors of the South East who were present added color to the summit with their vital contributions.
A Shared Responsibility
The maiden South East Regional Security Summit was a success. This much was captured in the communiqué with the reaffirmation by participants on the importance of sustained partnership among stakeholders in the region towards a peaceful, secure, and prosperous South East. This was reassuring, and I left Umuahia with assurances that the various stakeholders in the region have elected to take ownership of the security initiatives in place towards sustainable peace and security.
This is the collaboration that we seek at the Ministry of Defence, not just in the South East, but in other regions of the country. Direct feedback is necessary in the sense that there is no universal security strategy in Nigeria. Nigeria is a plural country, and the causation of insecurity varies from region to region. This can only be identified through the gathering of stakeholders. It could also pass for a town hall meeting because there were no restrictions on the participants list. It was broad and holistic, as mentioned earlier, and it was deliberately intentioned to gather as much feedback as possible.
Security is everyone’s business. This is the reality that we must embrace, and it is the reason why we are taking collaborative approaches to strengthening regional security and stability across the various regions of the country. With this, we are embarking on a paradigm shift-a shift that emphasizes the ‘Whole-of-Society Approach’ towards addressing our security challenges adopted by the Ministry of Defence under my watch.
The highlight of the summit as captured in the communique was the resolution that the five South-East States collaborate with relevant federal security and intelligence institutions to deepen coordination and develop more effective mechanisms for addressing security threats that transcend state boundaries. Also, security agencies were specifically tasked with the responsibility of deepening sustained engagement with communities through dialogue, confidence-building measures and appropriate civil-military cooperation initiatives aimed at strengthening trust and public participation. This is the essence of collaborative approaches in the critical security architecture in the country.
I must add that beyond the eloquence of the presentations at the summit, the political authorities in the South East states must as a matter of urgency designate appropriate focal points to facilitate coordination, implementation and follow-up on the resolutions of the summit, and an appropriate mechanism for periodic review of progress in implementing agreed actions towards addressing the security challenges across the South-East.
Thank you
The next destination is the North Central, and others will follow suit in no particular order. The overarching objective is regional security and stability. This is the marching order of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and it is introspective and reflective of his passion and commitment to addressing the security challenges in the country. I want to use this medium to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his leadership strides, especially his keen interest in the security of the lives and property of Nigerians across the country.
My appreciation also goes to all who contributed to this milestone, particularly the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South East) for her dedicated collaboration. And most importantly, to the good people of the South East region, I say ‘Daal?, Nd?da ?w?wa Anyanw?.’ (Thank you, South East).