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Insecurity: Senate Urges Synergy Among Security Agencies
President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan, has urged the security agencies to partner and collaborate among themselves, especially in the sharing of intelligence.
Lawan gave the advice, yesterday, when he received in audience, Course 14 Participants from the National Institute for Security Studies, led by the Commandant, Mr. Ayodele Saheed Adeleke.
The Senate President in his welcome address underscored the importance of intelligence gathering towards guaranteeing the security of lives and property.
Lawan urged the participants to take their training in intelligence gathering seriously, and appealed to security agencies in the country to adopt an approach that encourages collaboration in intelligence sharing and coordination.
“We need you to be well trained, so that you would help in the fight against all the numerous challenges that we face today, by providing the necessary and relevant information in time for us to nip in the bud, or at least, reduce the extent of damage.
“And, I will take this opportunity also, to appeal to the various security agencies to always partner, collaborate and coordinate their activities.
“Those in charge of intelligence, please, it is mandatory that when you gather intelligence, you pass the intelligence to the other agencies that need them to operate properly, otherwise, that is not of any use if that agency cannot have access to them.
“For a long time, we have been complaining about coordination and partnership between the various security agencies. It is necessary that we are able to achieve that,” he said.
According to him, the efficient gathering of information amounts to effective intelligence needed to curb insecurity across parts of the country from activities such as banditry, kidnapping, insurgency, and militancy.
He said, “The place of intelligence in security is so paramount, in fact, in many cases, intelligence helps to curb potential and devastatingly dangerous attacks against citizens.
“In countries where there is so much success in fighting insecurity, the position of intelligence is so secured and well supported, and, therefore, functions almost optimally by providing the kind of information that is required to nip in the bud potential damages and massacres.”
Lawan, in his assessment of the security in the situation in the North-East part of the country, noted that insurgency had been drastically curtailed by the intervention of the military.
He, therefore, pledged the support of the National Assembly to the military in sustaining the fight against insurgency North-East, and curbing the menace of banditry, kidnapping and militancy in other states of the federation.
“We all know that our country, today, is challenged seriously by insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, militancy and even cybercrime.
“On insurgency, we can say we did very well from 2015 to date, by curbing and curtailing the insurgency in the country, because before 2015, our situation was dire in the North-East.
“In the last two to three months, personally, I’ve observed serious improvement in our war against insurgency in the North-East, and we are very prayerful and hopeful to be supportive to ensure that the new service chiefs get every possible support from us, so that they are able to continue with their success and trajectory in the fight against insurgency in the North-East, ditto the fight against banditry, kidnapping, and of course, militancy,” Lawan said.
President Bola Tinubu has expressed confidence that the country would win the fight against insecurity.
The President gave the assurance at the Argungu International Fishing Festival in Argungu town, Kebbi State, on Saturday.
He noted that the relative peace currently being enjoyed in Kebbi and neighbouring states was the result of sustained investments in security intelligence, coordination among security agencies, and community engagement.
Tinubu assured farmers and fishermen of sustained federal support to guarantee food security and safety across the country.
“The peace we are witnessing today is not accidental. It is the outcome of deliberate and sustained efforts. I assure you that the fight against banditry, insurgency, and insecurity will be won.
“Our farmers, fishermen, traders, and families will go about their lawful activities without fear,” he assured.
The President commended the organisers of the festival for sustaining the cultural event for decades, noting that it had endured for 83 years despite social and security challenges.
Describing the Argungu festival as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence, Tinubu stated that it reflects the richness of the country’s culture and the opportunities to harness its natural and human resources for national growth.
He said, “Today, this festival stands as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence among our people.
“It reflects the richness of our culture, the strength of our traditions, and the opportunities inherent in harnessing our natural and human resources for national development.”
The President was received by a large crowd of residents, traditional rulers, fishermen, tourists, and government officials from across the country.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth and women empowerment, irrigation development, rural electrification, and agricultural productivity.
Earlier, the Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, said his administration was determined to elevate the Argungu Fishing Festival to full international standards while pursuing aggressive development across critical sectors of the state.
The United States Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed today, in observance of Presidents’ Day.
The mission made this known in a notice shared on its official X page, yesterday.
“The U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed on Monday, February 16, 2026, in observance of Presidents’ Day,” the post read.
According to the embassy, Presidents’ Day was originally established to honour the birthday of the former US President, George Washington, but has evolved into a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents and their leadership in shaping the country’s history.
The embassy noted that the holiday also recognises the influence of U.S. presidents on global affairs.
In a related message, the mission highlighted that Washington created the first “Badge of Military Merit,” which later became the Purple Heart. The medal still bears Washington’s image today.
Presidents’ Day is observed on the third Monday of February annually in the United States as a federal holiday.
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Guterres Backs Nigeria’s Bid For UN Security Council Seat …Hails Tinubu’s Reforms, Regional Security Role
United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has charged Nigeria with spearheading Africa’s quest for a restructured global order, describing the country as uniquely positioned to lead the continent toward superpower status.
Guterres, who backed Nigeria’s bid for the world body’s security council seat, also praised the economic reforms of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration as well as Nigeria’s leadership in stabilising the Sahel and ECOWAS regions, despite facing its own security challenges.
The UN scribe made the remarks last Friday night during a high-level bilateral meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima on the sidelines of the 39th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Speaking during the meeting, Guterres said Nigeria’s large population, sustained democratic governance, vast natural and human resources, and longstanding commitment to multilateralism placed it in a unique position to lead Africa in the evolving global order.
“Given Nigeria’s demographic strength, democratic continuity and deep resource base, the country stands a real chance of leading Africa to becoming the next superpower in the evolving global architecture,” he said.
The UN Secretary-General and the vice president discussed key developments in Nigeria and the country’s expanding leadership role in promoting regional stability across West Africa and the Sahel.
Guterres commended the remarkable and outstanding reforms of the administration of President Tinubu, noting that Nigeria’s bold economic restructuring and security commitments have strengthened its continental standing.
The meeting focused on strengthening Nigeria–UN collaboration to advance global economic growth, peace and security, sustainable development, and a coordinated humanitarian response across Africa.
In his remarks, Shettima thanked the UN Secretary-General for his leadership in advancing global peace, noting that Africa has benefited immensely from his tenure, even as the United Nations undergoes internal restructuring.
“We remain committed to multilateralism and to deepening our partnerships with the United Nations and other global institutions,” the vice president said.
Shettima also reiterated Nigeria’s longstanding call for comprehensive reform of the United Nations system to reflect evolving global realities.
He emphasised that Africa must have stronger representation in global decision-making structures and declared that Nigeria deserves a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
Both leaders pledged to deepen cooperation, with Guterres reaffirming the UN’s support for Nigeria’s reform agenda and its growing leadership role in advancing peace, security, and development across Africa.