The Federal Government has positioned digital skills development and youth empowerment as critical components of its strategy to tackle insecurity and promote lasting peace in Nigeria’s South-East, saying sustainable security extends beyond military operations to creating opportunities for young people.
The position was outlined by Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, at the 2026 South-East Regional Security Summit held on Thursday in Umuahia, Abia State. Speaking on the theme, “Collaborative Approaches to Strengthening Security and Regional Stability,” the minister said investments in digital skills, education, infrastructure and support for small businesses are central to the administration’s long-term security agenda.
“When the South-East is secure, Nigeria is stronger. When every region enjoys peace, our democracy flourishes. And when we stand together as one people, united by a common destiny, no force can diminish the promise of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Idris says.
Security beyond military response
According to Idris, the administration of President Bola Tinubu is pursuing a comprehensive approach that combines security operations with economic and human capital development to address the underlying causes of insecurity.
He said ongoing investments in infrastructure, youth empowerment, education, digital skills and small businesses are designed to create opportunities that will strengthen peace and foster economic prosperity across the South-East.
“Security,” the minister says, “is the foundation for investment, education, agriculture and economic prosperity.”
Idris stressed that the Federal Government remains committed to ensuring that communities across the South-East enjoy lasting peace through improved intelligence sharing, stronger inter-agency coordination, better equipment for security agencies and enhanced international partnerships.
Digital skills linked to peace and prosperity
Idris argued that security should not be viewed solely through the lens of law enforcement, noting that expanding access to education, digital skills and economic opportunities can help reduce the conditions that fuel insecurity.
He described peace as more than the absence of conflict, saying it also depends on justice, inclusion, opportunity and hope.
“Peace is more than the absence of conflict. It is the presence of justice, opportunity, inclusion and hope. Together, we must reject division and work to build communities founded on trust and shared prosperity,” he says.
The minister also urged citizens to reject misinformation and support ongoing constitutional reforms aimed at strengthening grassroots policing through State Police.
Collaboration remains central
Idris called for a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to addressing security challenges, saying governments, security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations and citizens all have vital roles to play.
He maintained that strengthening collaboration among stakeholders would improve regional stability and reinforce national unity.
“When the South-East is secure, Nigeria is stronger. When every region enjoys peace, our democracy flourishes. And when we stand together as one people, united by a common destiny, no force can diminish the promise of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Idris says.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, said the National Assembly would continue providing legislative support to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.
He noted that no nation succeeds in addressing insecurity through isolated efforts, emphasising the importance of partnerships among government institutions, security agencies, traditional leaders and citizens.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, also advocated stronger regional cooperation and institutional reforms to address evolving security threats in the South-East.
“The time has come to move from dialogue to implementation. Security cannot be achieved through force alone; it requires collaboration, community trust and collective responsibility,” Kalu says.
Economic opportunities seen as security enabler
Abia State Governor Alex Otti described security as the foundation of development, arguing that sustainable peace requires efforts to create economic opportunities for young people while strengthening intelligence gathering and addressing the root causes of crime.
The General Christopher Musa (rtd), Minister of Defence, echoed the need for collective responsibility, saying the Federal Government is sustaining investments in the Armed Forces and other security agencies through enhanced training, modern equipment, improved intelligence gathering and stronger inter-agency collaboration.
He stressed that security remains a shared responsibility requiring the active participation of government, communities and citizens.
The summit brought together representatives of the National Assembly, governors from the South-East, security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to discuss collaborative strategies for improving regional security and stability.
Home
