The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has called for stronger trust, alliances and consensus among government institutions, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to tackle Nigeria’s security challenges. He made the call on Wednesday in Abuja at the Royal College of Defence Studies Alumni Association Nigeria Chapter Summit.
The summit, themed “Rebuilding Alliances, Trust and Consensus as Panacea for Tackling the Menace of Insecurity in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Prospects,” brought together military leaders, academics, and traditional and religious figures. Represented by the Chief of Defence Training, Rear Admiral Abolade Ogunleye, Oluyede described the theme as timely, stressing that building trust among critical stakeholders is essential for national unity and addressing insecurity.
Oluyede said allied trust and consensus between the executive, legislature, judiciary, military, academia, traditional and religious institutions, political class, civil society and youth groups “is a synchronon for social cohesion and national integration.” He added that peaceful coexistence irrespective of tribe, ethnicity, or religion remains fundamental to unity and must be strengthened through education, religion, sports, and recreation.
The Defence Chief noted that protecting national values against hostile interests is a government responsibility, in line with Chapter Two of the 1999 Constitution on Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy. He urged governments at all levels to work with civil society and public-spirited individuals to create platforms for dialogue and collaboration. “Governments in consensus with civil society groups… should create platforms and an enabling environment for allies to come together to build trust in each other and agree on a plan to end insecurity,” he said.
Expressing optimism, Oluyede said the calibre of participants inspired confidence that practical solutions would emerge. “I am particularly gratified, impressed and persuaded… that a panacea to Nigeria’s security challenge will be found and our challenges, even beyond insecurity, will be surmounted,” he stated, adding that roundtable discussions would get to the root of the problems.
President of the RCDS Alumni Association Nigeria Chapter, Maj. Gen. Oluwaseun Oshinowo (retd), described the lack of elite consensus as the nation’s greatest challenge. He said insecurity in the last two decades has threatened national cohesion, economic development, and democratic governance. “It calls for renewed efforts in building trust among the nation’s political, economic, traditional, religious, and intellectual elites, whose collective leadership is essential for fostering unity,” he said.
Oshinowo noted that while military and law enforcement responses have received attention, sustainable peace requires more than kinetic action. He said leaders across sectors initiate policies and influence events in their communities and therefore have tremendous influence on the security situation. The summit concluded with a call for inclusive governance and public confidence as the foundation for lasting security in Nigeria.