As insecurity continues to trouble many parts of Nigeria, the Senate has announced plans to host a two-day National Security Summit in Abuja. This move is aimed at finding fresh and practical ideas to keep Nigerians safe.
Unlike past meetings that focused mostly on military strategies, this summit is expected to bring together a wide range of voices. Delegates will come from the Federal, State, and Local Governments, as well as traditional rulers. Together, they will sit down to discuss the root causes of insecurity and how to solve them.
The summit was triggered by a motion titled “Urgent Need for a National Security Summit,” moved by Senator Ibrahim Jimoh of Ondo South in the Tuesday Plenary of the Senate. He was backed by three other senators—Zam Titus (Benue North-West), Peter Onyeka Nwebonyl (Ebonyi North) and Ngwu Osita (Enugu West).
Senator Jimoh explained that insecurity is not just a Nigerian issue. He pointed to global problems like the Russia-Ukraine war and the growing economic clashes between powerful nations. These, he said, affect food supply, international peace, and even Nigeria’s development goals. However, he stressed that Nigeria must find its own way to deal with the rising cases of banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism within its borders.
The Senate believes that the summit will give room for honest conversations and bold recommendations. They have called on the Federal Government to be ready to make real changes to the country’s security policies based on the summit’s findings.
The summit is also a chance to rethink the role of intelligence, community engagement, and local peace-building methods, not just the use of force. Senator Jimoh noted that Nigeria has a rich history of overcoming political crises and can draw lessons from the past.
Interesting perspective. It really made me think differently.