By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has stressed that lasting peace and security in the South-East are essential to Nigeria’s unity, economic growth and overall national development.
Speaking on Thursday at the 2026 South-East Regional Security Summit in Umuahia, Abia State, the minister said a secure South-East would strengthen the nation’s democracy and unlock greater opportunities for development.
“When the South-East is secure, Nigeria is stronger. When every region enjoys peace, our democracy flourishes. And when we stand together as one people, united by a common destiny, no force can diminish the promise of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Idris said.
Addressing participants on the theme, “Collaborative Approaches to Strengthening Security and Regional Stability,” the minister said tackling insecurity requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach involving governments, security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organizations and citizens.
He reaffirmed the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to protecting lives and property through improved intelligence sharing, enhanced inter-agency collaboration, better equipment for security agencies and stronger international partnerships.
According to Idris, the Federal Government is also investing in infrastructure, youth empowerment, education, digital skills development and support for small businesses as part of a broader strategy to address the root causes of insecurity and stimulate economic growth.
He urged Nigerians to reject misinformation and support ongoing constitutional reforms aimed at strengthening grassroots policing through the establishment of state police.
“Peace is more than the absence of conflict. It is the presence of justice, opportunity, inclusion and hope. Together, we must reject division and work to build communities founded on trust and shared prosperity,” he said.
Representing Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, assured participants of the National Assembly’s commitment to providing the legislative backing needed to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.
He noted that insecurity can only be effectively addressed through strong partnerships among government institutions, security agencies, traditional institutions, civil society and citizens.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, called for stronger regional cooperation and institutional reforms to tackle emerging security challenges in the South-East.
“The time has come to move from dialogue to implementation. Security cannot be achieved through force alone; it requires collaboration, community trust and collective responsibility,” Kalu said, while reaffirming the House’s support for legislative and constitutional reforms to improve national security.
Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, described security as the foundation of development, insisting that no meaningful progress can be achieved in an atmosphere of fear and instability.
“We cannot afford to surrender this great land and its people to the forces of insecurity. Security is the foundation upon which all our hopes for development and prosperity rest,” the governor said.
Otti also advocated increased economic opportunities for young people, stronger intelligence sharing and efforts to address the underlying causes of crime across the region.
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd), said the Federal Government remains committed to safeguarding the lives and property of Nigerians through sustained investments in the Armed Forces and other security agencies.
He emphasized that security is a shared responsibility requiring the collective efforts of government, security agencies, communities and citizens, adding that improved training, modern equipment, intelligence gathering and inter-agency collaboration have strengthened Nigeria’s security response.
The summit was attended by representatives of the Senate President, governors of the South-East states, lawmakers, traditional rulers, religious leaders, heads of security agencies, civil society organizations and other stakeholders committed to promoting peace and stability in the region.
