Nigeria’s worsening security crisis will take centre stage on July 28 as First Daily convenes a high-powered National Dialogue on Security, bringing together some of the country’s most influential military leaders, security chiefs, political figures, socio-cultural organisations and policy experts to chart a practical roadmap for tackling insecurity.
The one-day dialogue, scheduled to hold at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, from 10:00 a.m., is themed: “Declaration of State of Emergency on Insecurity: Matching Words with Action.”
Organisers said the event is intended to provide a non-partisan platform for frank, solution-driven discussions aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture and producing actionable recommendations capable of restoring peace, public confidence and national stability.
The Chairman of the Occasion is former Chief of Defence Staff and one of Nigeria’s most respected military leaders, General Martin Luther Agwai (Rtd.), CFR, FSS, MSS, DSS, while the keynote address will be delivered by General Lucky Irabor (Rtd.), former Chief of Defence Staff.
The National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) will serve as Co-Chairman of the dialogue.
Recognising that addressing insecurity requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, the organisers have invited the nation’s top security leadership, including the Minister of Defence, Minister of State for Defence, Minister of Interior, National Security Adviser (NSA), Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), as well as the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff, and other service chiefs.
Also invited are senior officials of the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
In a bid to foster broad national consensus, invitations have equally been extended to prominent political leaders and presidential hopefuls across party lines, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Senator Seriake Dickson, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Rotimi Amaechi, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate, and other leading national figures.
The dialogue will also feature participation from major socio-cultural organisations, including Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Afenifere, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), PANDEF, the Ijaw National Congress (INC), alongside other influential national groups.
According to the organisers, the dialogue will assemble security experts, policymakers, traditional rulers, civil society organisations, diplomats, academics, youth representatives, members of the media and other stakeholders to critically examine the root causes of insecurity and identify practical solutions for lasting peace.
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Participants are expected to engage in robust and constructive discussions that will interrogate existing security policies, identify institutional shortcomings, recommend reforms and propose concrete measures to address Nigeria’s multifaceted security challenges.
Speaking on the initiative, Chairman of the Organising Committee, Dr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said the country has reached a critical point where meaningful national engagement is urgently required.
He noted that the dialogue seeks to rise above partisan interests by placing the security, unity and welfare of Nigerians at the forefront of national discourse.
“The time has come for meaningful engagement that transcends political divides and places the security, unity and wellbeing of Nigerians above every other consideration,” he said.
The organisers urged members of the media and the general public to follow the proceedings of what is expected to be one of Nigeria’s most significant national conversations on security, with recommendations from the dialogue expected to contribute to ongoing efforts to strengthen national security and improve governance.