By Chesa Chesa
The Presidency, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Defence, has launched the North Central Community Early Warning and Early Response Network as part of efforts to strengthen grassroots participation in security management across the region.
The initiative was unveiled at the North Central Security Summit 2026, convened by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, North Central, in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence.
The summit, hosted by the Benue State Government at the New Banquet Hall, Government House, Makurdi, was held under the theme, “Collaborative Approach to Strengthening Security and Regional Stability.”
The event brought together governors and representatives of state governments, security and intelligence agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders, members of the National and State Assemblies, government officials and other stakeholders from across the North Central region.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, North Central, Dr. Abiodun Essiet, said communities must remain central to efforts to prevent and tackle insecurity, noting that residents and traditional institutions are often the first to detect signs of emerging threats.
According to him, the new network will strengthen community-level intelligence gathering, early warning, information sharing and coordinated responses to security threats.
He said the initiative would provide a structured platform for communities and relevant authorities to communicate emerging threats and facilitate timely intervention before conflicts and criminal activities escalate.
Representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the summit, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, joined other dignitaries in stressing the importance of collaboration among governments, communities and security agencies in addressing insecurity.
The host governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, was joined by the governors of Nasarawa and Plateau states, Engr. Abdullahi Sule and Barr. Caleb Mutfwang, respectively, while representatives of the governors of Kogi and Niger states also attended.
Also present were the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Hon. Dr. Bernard Doro; former Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen; representatives of the Ministers of Information and National Orientation and Steel Development, Mohammed Idris and Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, respectively.
Traditional and religious leaders, lawmakers, security and intelligence chiefs, civil society organisations, community leaders, retired military officers and government officials also participated in the summit.
Participants focused on strengthening intelligence sharing, improving inter-agency coordination, promoting community-based conflict prevention and enhancing early warning and rapid response mechanisms.
They also highlighted the need to address socio-economic factors contributing to insecurity, stressing the strategic importance of the North Central region to Nigeria’s national security, food security, economic development and social stability.
The summit reaffirmed the need for sustained collaboration and practical interventions at both institutional and community levels.
The Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, North Central, said it would continue to promote peaceful coexistence and strengthen partnerships among communities, governments, traditional institutions and security agencies.
The launch of the early warning network, it said, marks a significant step towards institutionalising grassroots participation in security management and ensuring that early signals of threats receive timely and coordinated responses.
