Ola Olukoyede, Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has stressed that tackling insecurity and corruption in Nigeria requires the active participation of every citizen and not just security agencies.
He made this call during a national forum organised by the Voice of Nigeria (VON) in Abuja on Tuesday.
In a statement issued by Dele Oyewale, EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Olikoyede, who was represented at the event by Wilson Uwujaren, Director of Public Affairs of the Commission, highlighted the deep connection between corruption and insecurity.
He described the gathering as a vital opportunity to foster ideas that would strengthen the country’s fight against both vices while promoting good governance.
“This engagement today is an opportunity to harvest good ideas that will enhance our fight against insecurity and 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.
Olukoyede challenged the prevailing belief that national security is the exclusive responsibility of the armed forces and intelligence agencies.
He warned that such a notion weakens the collective resolve needed to tackle the threats confronting the nation. According to him, sustainable peace and stability can only be achieved through the combined efforts of all Nigerians.
“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 is not only for the police, the DSS, or the EFCC alone; every citizen has a part to play”, he stated.
He further emphasised the consequences of mismanaging public resources, arguing that the absence of accountability and integrity fuels the very conditions that breed insecurity.
“Many of us don’t 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 make headway in the fight against insecurity.
“There’s a link between what we do at the EFCC and what the military is doing in prosecuting the fight against insecurity”, he explained.
The EFCC chairman commended Voice of Nigeria for convening the forum, describing it as a timely and strategic intervention.
“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 added.
Also speaking at the event, Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, urged journalists to remain committed to responsible and patriotic reporting.
While emphasising the media’s vital role in national development, he cautioned against narratives that could jeopardise the country’s unity.
“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.
“Your media and responsibility come to nothing if what you report only ends in fragmenting and putting this country into chaos”, he said.
Zakari Mijinyawa, Director of Legal Services in the Office of the National Security Adviser, who represented Nuhu Ribadu, the NSA, also lent his voice to the need for national unity.
He described the forum’s theme, Citizen Engagement and National Unity, as both a call to action and a blueprint for strengthening national resilience.
“National security is not the sole responsibility of our armed forces, 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,” Mijinyawa said.
Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff and Special Guest of Honour at the event, called on Nigerians to actively resist efforts by terrorists to gain a foothold in their communities.
“We should stop supporting them by denying them all the things they need to operate.
“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”, he said.
Jibrin Ndache, the Director-General of VON and host of the forum, described the event as a catalyst for action rather than a mere policy dialogue.
He said the gathering was intended to promote inclusive conversations and meaningful collaboration across key sectors, including the media, security agencies, civil society, traditional and religious leaders, and youth representatives.
Other speakers at the forum emphasised that parents and students must see themselves as the first line of defence in the ongoing efforts to safeguard the nation.
