Nigeria Strengthens Homeland Security Coordination for Peace, National Development
Oru Leonard
The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening coordination among security agencies, government institutions, communities and citizens to enhance peace, security and national development.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated this on Thursday in Abuja when the Special Adviser to the President on Homeland Security, Major-General Adeyinka Famadewa (Rtd.), paid a courtesy visit to the Ministry.
Idris described the visit as an opportunity to deepen understanding of the mandate of the newly established Office of the Special Adviser and strengthen collaboration in communicating security policies and initiatives to Nigerians.
The Minister stressed that peace and security were fundamental to sustainable development, noting that Nigeria’s security challenges could not be resolved through military action alone.
“Peace and security are essential elements; in fact, they are the building blocks of any development that can happen anywhere,” Idris said.
He added: “You cannot shoot yourself out of this problem. Security requires collaboration between the security agencies, the armed forces and the general public.”
According to him, closer collaboration among the armed forces, security agencies, governments at all levels, communities, the media and citizens was necessary to effectively address the country’s security challenges.
Idris also highlighted the grassroots reach of the National Orientation Agency and other agencies under the Ministry, saying they had important roles to play in building community resilience, promoting responsible citizenship and ensuring that citizens received accurate and timely information.
He identified fake news, misinformation and disinformation as emerging national security threats, stressing the need for responsible communication and improved media and information literacy.
Earlier, Famadewa said his visit was aimed at establishing a strong working relationship with the Ministry, describing information and public education as critical components of modern homeland security.
He said the Office of the Special Adviser would focus on unified intelligence and surveillance, stronger border security, improved identification of security threats, as well as effective protocols for reporting and responding to crises.
“Information is key in asymmetric warfare. The first person to speak wins, and we cannot sit back and allow others to shape perception for us,” Famadewa said.
Idris assured the Special Adviser of the Ministry’s full cooperation, noting that stronger coordination, effective communication and active citizen participation would support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of a safer, more peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.
The meeting was attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Binyerem C. Ukaire; Special Assistant (Administration) to the Minister, Dr. Sunday Baba; Director, Public Communication and National Orientation, Henshaw Ogubike; Director of Public Relations and Protocol, Dr. Haruna Suleiman; and other senior officials.
Also present were the Coordinator, Intelligence and Analysis, Major General Emmanuel Ndagi (Rtd.); Coordinator, Operations, Major General Hassan Dada (Rtd.); Director-General, National Broadcasting Commission, Charles Ebuebu; Director-General, Nigerian Television Authority, Comrade Salihu Abdulhamid Dembos; Director-General, Voice of Nigeria, Jibrin Baba Ndace; Director-General, News Agency of Nigeria, Ali Muhammad Ali, among others.
Cover Photo Caption, L–R: Director-General, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ali M. Ali; Director-General, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Mallam Salihu Abdulhamid Dembos, fnipr; Director-General, Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace; Coordinator, Intelligence and Analysis, Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Homeland Security, Major General Emmanuel Ndagi (Rtd.); Director, Public Communications, Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Mr. Henshaw Ogubike; Coordinator, Operations, Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Homeland Security, Major General Hassan Dada (Rtd.); Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Dr. Binyerem C. Ukaire, FWACS; Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, fnipr; Special Adviser to the President on Homeland Security, Major General Adeyinka A. Famadewa (Rtd.); Coordinator, Liaison/Linkages, Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Homeland Security, Sanusi Turay; Information Analyst, Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Homeland Security, Yosola Dawodu; Special Assistant to the Special Advisers, Lt. Col. Chinedu Chikwe; Special Assistant, Special Duties, Onoriode Okpogoro; and Director-General, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr. Charles Ebuebu, during a courtesy visit by the Special Adviser to the President on Homeland Security to the Honourable Minister on August 13, 2026, in Abuja. Photo: Khalid Ahmed/FMINO.
