The Chairman of the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC) and former Director of Defence Information, Major-General Chris Olukolade (rtd), has called for a shift from Nigeria’s over-centralized security approach to a more grassroots-driven model anchored on local intelligence, community cooperation, and public awareness.
Delivering a keynote address at the First Bi-Annual Community Security Engagement Training in Abuja, Olukolade emphasized that tackling challenges such as insurgency, banditry, cultism, and farmer-herder conflicts requires robust collaboration between security agencies and local communities.
He said : “The growing insecurity in Nigeria is a clear sign that the disconnect between local communities and security agencies must be bridged.
“Mass sensitization, national security education, and empowered citizens are vital for enhancing intelligence gathering and early warning systems.”
He also proposed the development of a National Security Education Curriculum and recommended that the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) spearhead the initiative, citing its broad academic infrastructure and nationwide reach.
The five-day training workshop, which runs from July 21 to 26, convened traditional rulers, local government officials, security experts, and other stakeholders to develop community-based strategies under the theme: “A Tripartite Synergy as a Legislative Advocacy Aimed at Providing Structural Framework to Put in Place Trained and Equipped Community First-Line of Defence (CONFILODS) to Save Our Communities.”
Also speaking at the opening, Assistant Inspector-General of Police Victor Olaiya, who represented the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, expressed support for the initiative and reiterated the Nigerian Police Force’s commitment to strengthening community policing through local partnerships.
Former Governor of Bauchi State and Chairman of NOUN Governing Council, Mallam Isa Yuguda, underscored the urgency of local capacity development, urging stronger grassroots participation in national security strategies.
“The security of our communities cannot solely rely on federal intervention.
“We must build solutions from the ground up,” Yuguda stated.
Professor Isaac Sammani Butswat, representing NOUN Vice-Chancellor Prof. Olufemi Peters, described the university as a critical stakeholder in national development.
“NOUN is arguably the best university in West Africa for outreach-based education and is well positioned to contribute to national security through training, research, and education,” he said.
In his remarks, Senator Muntari Dandutse, who represented Senate President Godswill Akpabio, emphasized the importance of the National Assembly’s role in providing legislative backing for initiatives such as CONFILODS.
He hailed NOUN’s presence across all 36 states as a strategic advantage for promoting security awareness and community engagement.
Closing the opening session, Prince Celestine Ekwe, Director of the Royal Gate International Institute and convener of the training, called for the formal integration of vigilante groups into the national security framework.
He urged the Inspector-General of Police to work towards legislative provisions that would ensure proper training, operational structure, and accountability of community security outfits.
The training is a collaborative effort involving the Royal Gate International Institute, the National Assembly through its Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, and NOUN.
It features breakout sessions, technical lectures, and scenario-based workshops to build capacity among community security volunteers—designated as Community First-Line of Defence (CONFILODS)—who are expected to serve as the vanguard in local security efforts.
Participants are expected to leave the training equipped with skills and strategies to respond to emerging threats and contribute to a more resilient and secure Nigeria from the grassroots level.
Source – PRNigeria
(vitalnewsngr.com)
