Photo Credit: The Sun Newspaper / Original Photo from The Sun Nigeria report
Insecurity: Defence Minister Wants Local Communities Integrated into Security Architecture
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), has called for the inclusion of local communities in Nigeria’s security architecture as a strategy to tackle rising insecurity.

Musa said insecurity is felt most at the community level, hence local knowledge is indispensable for prevention and early intervention. He called for stronger collaboration between local governments, traditional and religious leaders, security agencies and the private sector to secure the grassroots.

He made the call while delivering a keynote address at the Federal Character Commission’s two-day national workshop for local government chairmen organised in collaboration with the All Progressives Congress (APC) Progressive Governors Forum in Abuja.

Speaking on the theme “Strengthening grassroots security through inclusive local leadership, community partnership and Inter-Agency Collaboration”, the minister said: “If we are serious about preventing insecurity rather than simply responding to it after it occurs, then the knowledge and experience of those closest to the people must become an integral part of our security effort”.

Musa backed the proposal to establish Local Government Security Coordination Committees across the 774 LGAs, but stressed that they must be functional and not become another layer of bureaucracy.

“The objective is not to create parallel security structures, but to improve coordination, strengthen existing institutions and ensure that every stakeholder contributes effectively within his or her area of responsibility,” he said.

President Bola Tinubu, Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Governor Hope Uzodimma, and the Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, also charged the 774 LGA chairmen to entrench inclusive governance, accountability and federal character at the grassroots.

Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, President Tinubu said local government councils remain the closest interface between citizens and the state and urged officials to rise above sectional interests.

On her part, Omidiran said the country’s diversity should be seen as a strength, noting that local governments are uniquely positioned to manage diversity through equitable distribution of opportunities and inclusive leadership.

The PGF Director-General, Folorunso S. Aluko, who represented the PGF Chairman, described local government as where citizens encounter government most directly, adding that autonomy must come with transparency, prudent financial management and citizen engagement.
Source: The Sun Nigeria