National Security a Top Priority, a Shared Civic Duty - National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has emphasized that under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, national security must be both a top priority and a shared civic duty. 

According to him, peace and stability should not remain aspirations but must become the lived reality of all Nigerians.

Represented by Zakari Mijinyawa, Director of Legal at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Ribadu delivered this message at the 2025 VON Forum held on Tuesday, June 3rd, in Abuja. The event was organized by the Voice of Nigeria in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation.

“Security does not begin in Abuja or government houses; it begins in our homes, our streets, and our neighborhoods,” Ribadu said. “Every Nigerian must see themselves not merely as beneficiaries of security, but as partners in achieving it.”

He called for a culture of community vigilance, where citizens actively collaborate with law enforcement, report suspicious activities, and foster trust at the grassroots level. He highlighted the selfless act of Imam Abdullahi Abubakar, who shielded over 260 non-Muslims during an attack in Kano State, as a powerful example of patriotic courage.

Ribadu described the forum’s theme, "Renewed Hope Agenda: Citizen Engagement and National Security", as a call to action for national resilience and unity. He stressed that no development—be it in education, innovation, or investment—can occur without security.

“Where there is peace, there is prosperity and opportunity,” he said.

Acknowledging ongoing threats like terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, cybercrime, and misinformation, Ribadu noted that unity of purpose remains key to overcoming them. He also addressed the trust gap between citizens and security institutions, stating that government is working to rebuild confidence through transparency, accountability, and a people-first approach.

He further revealed ongoing intelligence and security sector reforms, the most significant since 1986, focusing on shifting from reactive to proactive intelligence gathering, enhanced by data, AI-based analytics, surveillance technologies, drones, and real-time inter-agency coordination.

Ribadu warned against the weaponization of fake news, urging citizens to reject sensationalism and misinformation, and instead promote narratives of truth, unity, and peace.