The Senate Adhoc Committee on South-East/North-East at the National Security Summit 2025 has reaffirmed its commitment to restoring peace, stability, and safety across the South-East region. Senator Austin Akobundu, Chairman of the committee, gave this assurance during the summit held in Enugu on Wednesday.
With the theme “Strengthening Nigeria’s National Security Architecture: Innovation, Collaboration and Resilience in a Changing World,” the summit brought together a broad range of stakeholders. Representatives included traditional and religious leaders, community President-Generals, security agencies, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, civil society groups, and political office holders, all contributing perspectives toward a unified security vision.
Senator Akobundu noted that the National Assembly remains dedicated to fostering strong inter-agency collaboration among security operatives. He also stressed that the resources needed to restore the South-East to a path of peace, progress, and shared prosperity would be duly appropriated and released without delay.
Expressing gratitude to security agencies and community leaders for their ongoing sacrifices, he urged them to remain steadfast. “Your sacrifices will never be forgotten. You are our greatest assets and heroes in this war against extremism and criminality,” he said.
He explained that the summit stemmed from a Senate resolution to address Nigeria’s worsening security situation through broad-based consultation. The forum, he said, provides a platform for Nigerians—especially those most affected by insecurity—to contribute to lasting solutions.
Akobundu acknowledged that despite years of efforts, insecurity has continued to escalate. He highlighted the severe consequences: traumatised communities, abandoned farms, disrupted schools, and rising poverty, hunger, disease, and illiteracy. The impact of the prolonged sit-at-home order and the use of violence by some agitators, he noted, has worsened the region’s economic and social conditions.
In his remarks, the Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Mr. Uche Ugwu, described the summit as a chance for honest dialogue, deeper understanding, and collective problem-solving. He emphasised that resolving insecurity in the region requires sincere collaboration among governments, security agencies, traditional institutions, youth groups, and civil society organisations.