By Zainab Rauf A high-level national dialogue on security will take centre stage as the Voice of Nigeria (VON) hosts the maiden edition of...
By Zainab Rauf
A high-level national dialogue on security will take centre stage as the Voice of Nigeria (VON) hosts the maiden edition of its National Citizens’ Engagement Forum on Security. The event is expected to feature top government officials, including the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa.
The forum, which aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aims to strengthen participatory governance by fostering open communication between security agencies and Nigerian citizens.
In a statement released by the Director General/CEO of VON, Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace, the Minister of Information will serve as Chief Host and deliver the opening address. The NSA will chair the occasion, while the CDS is slated to attend as Special Guest of Honour.
Described as a citizen-centric initiative, the forum seeks to rebuild public trust in Nigeria’s security institutions through dialogue, collaboration, and transparency.
Participants will include a broad range of stakeholders from across Nigeria—security chiefs, civil society organisations, scholars, youth and women’s groups, the media, as well as religious and traditional leaders. The VON DG is expected to deliver the opening remarks to set the tone for the engagements.
Two major panel discussions will headline the event. The first, “Bridging the Gap: Enhancing Citizens’ Trust in Security Institutions,” will examine ways to mend the often-fractured relationship between the public and security operatives. The second session, titled “From Awareness to Action: Civic Responsibility in Times of Crisis,” will highlight the critical role of citizen participation, civil society, and the media in supporting national security.
One of the forum’s most anticipated features is an Open Feedback Session, which will give ordinary Nigerians the rare opportunity to interact directly with key security officials and policymakers—a move seen as a landmark shift in Nigeria’s security discourse.
All major components of Nigeria’s security apparatus—including the Armed Forces, Nigeria Police Force, paramilitary organisations, and civil-military relations stakeholders—are expected to participate, alongside grassroots leaders and community-based groups.
The event will culminate in the adoption of a post-forum communiqué, which will articulate actionable strategies to improve cooperation and trust between citizens and the nation's security agencies.
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