The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has said the fight against insecurity and corruption cannot be left in the hands of security agencies alone, stressing that every Nigerian has a critical role to play in securing the nation and promoting good governance.
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, at a high-level national forum in Abuja, organized by the Voice of Nigeria (VON) and represented by the Director of Public Affairs Department of the Commission, Commander of the EFCC, CE Wilson Uwujaren, the EFCC’s boss emphasized the link between insecurity and corruption, and called for stronger collaboration across sectors and communities.
“This engagement today is an opportunity to harvest good ideas that will enhance our fight against insecurity in this country and also promote good governance in our country. It is gratifying that the organizers have identified collaboration and unity as useful ingredients for national development. I believe that there’s more that can be done when we put our hands together,” he said.
He warned against the misconception that security is solely the responsibility of the armed forces and intelligence agencies, stressing that corporate commitment against insecurity was the only potent means of breaking threats to peace and security.
“We cannot make real success in the fight against insecurity in this country if we leave that fight to our armed forces alone. Every Nigerian has a role to play in ensuring that we enjoy peace across the length and breadth of our country. The fight against insecurity in our nation is not only for the police, not for the DSS or EFCC alone, all Nigerians have a role to play in this endeavor”, he said.
Olukoyede, further highlighted the close connection between the misuse of public resources and national insecurity, maintaining that, “Many of us don’t actually understand the link between the fight against corruption and insecurity in our nation. If there’s no integrity in the use of resources, we can’t also make headway in the fight against insecurity. So, there’s a link between what we do at the EFCC and what the military is doing in prosecuting the fight against insecurity in our nation.”
The EFCC boss: “The bottom line is that all of us have a role to play, and I congratulate VON for bringing us together to discuss this morning,” he said.
In his remarks, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, underscored the vital role of the media in nation-building. He enjoined journalists to report responsibly and patriotically.
“It is important for the media to say what is true and accurate, but it is also very important to know that they are doing that within the context of Nigeria,” he said. “You must report responsibly, patriotically, and in the interest of our country at all times. Your media and responsibility come to nothing if what you report only ends in fragmenting and putting this country into chaos.”
Representing the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, the Director of Legal Services at the NSA’s office, Zakari Mijinyawa, described the theme of the event, ‘Citizen engagement and national unity’, as a “call for national action and a blueprint for national resilience.”
“National security is not the sole responsibility of our armed forces, or security personnel, or even government institutions. It is a shared duty, a burden, and a blessing that we all have as citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said. “A secured Nigeria is not merely built on guns and guards. It is built with trust, vigilance, and the daily commitment of the Nigerian people.”
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who was the Special Guest of Honour, urged Nigerians to deny terrorists the enabling environment they need to thrive.
“We should stop supporting them by denying them all the things they need to operate,” he said. “What would be your gain if your country fails? So many people want us to fail as a nation and to disintegrate, but as God will have it, they’re seeing us thrive 10 years after their prediction of disintegration.”
The host of the forum, Director-General of VON, Jibrin Baba Ndache, noted that the event was more than a policy dialogue. “This forum is designed to create action. It provides a strategic platform for inclusive dialogue and collaboration among key stakeholders, including the media, security agencies, policymakers, civil society actors, traditional and religious leaders, and youth representatives,” he said.
