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FG Calls for Stronger Citizen-Security Partnership to Tackle Insecurity
The Federal Government has called for closer cooperation between security agencies, government institutions, communities, the media and citizens as p...
By Wavers News
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the call in Abuja on Thursday during a meeting with the Special Adviser to the President on Homeland Security, Maj.-Gen. Adeyinka Famadewa (retd.).
Idris said the country’s security challenges require more than the deployment of military and other security forces, stressing that citizens and communities must also play an active role in protecting the nation.
He urged security agencies to strengthen their engagement with communities and improve communication with members of the public. He also said government institutions and the media have an important responsibility to provide Nigerians with accurate and timely information on security matters.
The minister identified misinformation and disinformation as growing threats, warning that false information could increase tension, weaken public confidence and make security operations more difficult.
He said the grassroots structures of the National Orientation Agency and other agencies under his ministry could be used to improve public awareness, strengthen community resilience and encourage responsible citizenship.
Famadewa, who visited the ministry to establish closer cooperation with its leadership, said effective information management had become an essential part of modern homeland security.
He said his office would focus on areas including intelligence and surveillance, border security, threat identification and the development of appropriate responses to security incidents.
Famadewa also stressed the importance of ensuring that the government communicates quickly during security incidents, arguing that information gaps could allow false narratives to spread.
The two officials agreed on the need for stronger institutional coordination and improved public communication as the Federal Government works towards creating a safer and more secure environment.
The government believes that combining the efforts of security agencies with active participation from citizens and communities will strengthen the country's overall security architecture.