The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has called for stronger trust, alliances and consensus among government institutions, civil society organisations and other stakeholders as part of efforts to tackle Nigeria’s security challenges.

Oluyede made the call on Wednesday in Abuja at the Royal College of Defence Studies Alumni Association Nigeria Chapter Summit.

The summit was themed, “Rebuilding Alliances, Trust and Consensus as Panacea for Tackling the Menace of Insecurity in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Prospects.”

Represented by the Chief of Defence Training at the Defence Headquarters, Rear Admiral Abolade Ogunleye, the Defence Chief described the theme of the summit as timely, noting that building alliances and trust among critical stakeholders was essential to promoting national unity and addressing insecurity.

He said, “The essence and timeliness of such an intuitively conceived, meticulously nurtured and diligently expressed idea is indeed very apt, especially considering that its central and pivotal role in international building cannot be overemphasised.

“Accordingly, allied trust and consensus between those in government, that is, the executive, the legislature and judiciary, the military, academia, traditional and religious institutions, the political class, civil society, youth groups amongst others is a synchronon for social cohesion and national integration.”

Oluyede said peaceful coexistence among diverse groups irrespective of tribe, race, ethnicity or religion remained fundamental to national unity, adding that such values should be strengthened through education, religion, sports and recreation.

He noted that it was the responsibility of the government to protect those values against hostile interests, saying the position aligns with the provisions of Chapter Two of the 1999 Constitution on the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy.

Oluyede urged governments at all levels to work with civil society organisations and public-spirited individuals to create platforms that would encourage dialogue, strengthen mutual trust and foster collaboration in addressing insecurity.

He said, “Governments in consensus with civil society groups, including public-spirited individuals and groups, should create platforms and an enabling environment for allies to come together to build trust in each other and agree on a plan to find a solution to end insecurity in Nigeria.”

Expressing optimism that the country’s security challenges could be overcome through collective action, he said the quality of participants at the summit inspired confidence that practical solutions would emerge from the deliberations.

“I am particularly gratified, impressed and persuaded, considering the array of participants, that a panacea to Nigeria’s security challenge will be found and our challenges, even beyond insecurity, will be surmounted.

“This belief is anchored on the conviction that the ensuing roundtable discussion by panellists and other stakeholders will get to the root of our challenges and profile the way forward,” he added.

In his remarks, the President of the RCDS Alumni Association, Nigeria Chapter, Major General Oluwaseun Oshinowo (retd), described the lack of elite consensus as the greatest challenge confronting the nation.

He said insecurity has, in the last two decades, continued to threaten Nigeria’s national cohesion, economic development, democratic governance and social stability.

He stated that while considerable attention has been devoted to military and law enforcement responses, it is increasingly evident that sustainable peace requires more than kinetic solutions.

“It calls for renewed efforts in building trust among the nation’s political, economic, traditional, religious, and intellectual elites, whose collective leadership is essential for fostering unity, promoting inclusive governance, and building public confidence,” he said.

Oshinowo reiterated that the leadership of the various segments of our national life are the policy initiator, determinants of issues and events in their areas of endeavour and localities where they come from or reside and thus, have tremendous influence in determining the security situation in the country