The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said lasting peace and security in the South-East are essential to Nigeria’s unity, economic growth and national development.
Idris made the remarks on Thursday at the 2026 South-East Regional Security Summit in Umuahia, Abia State, themed “Collaborative Approaches to Strengthening Security and Regional Stability”.
The minister called for a coordinated approach to security involving federal and state governments, security agencies, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations and citizens.
He said the federal government remained committed to improving security in the region through enhanced intelligence sharing, stronger coordination among security agencies, improved equipment and international partnerships.
According to Idris, security is fundamental to investment, education, agriculture and economic development, adding that the government’s efforts to address insecurity must also include investments in infrastructure, youth empowerment, education, digital skills and support for small businesses.
He urged citizens to reject misinformation and support efforts to strengthen grassroots policing through the ongoing constitutional reform process on state police.
Idris also called for greater unity and inclusion, saying lasting peace requires more than an absence of conflict and must include justice, opportunity and economic prospects for citizens.
Speaking on behalf of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, said the National Assembly would continue to provide legislative support for measures aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture.
Yar’Adua stressed the importance of partnerships between government, security agencies, traditional institutions, civil society and citizens in tackling insecurity, saying security efforts are more effective when different stakeholders work together.
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, also called for stronger regional cooperation and institutional reforms to address security challenges in the South-East.
Kalu said the region needed to move from dialogue to implementation, noting that security could not be achieved through force alone but required community trust and collective responsibility.
In his remarks, Abia State Governor Alex Otti described security as the foundation for development and prosperity, saying meaningful economic and social progress would remain difficult in an environment of fear and insecurity.
The summit brought together government officials, lawmakers and other stakeholders to discuss approaches to improving security and stability in the South-East.
