This emerged on Monday after President Bola Tinubu met with officials from the Community Engagement office, who presented a wide-ranging report on insecurity and development needs from all six geopolitical zones. The briefing took place at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Dr. Abiodun Essiet, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement for the North Central, explained that the team’s findings offered the president a unified picture of rising security threats, infrastructure deficiencies, and citizens’ concerns.
She noted that violence in the region is being aggravated by long-standing tensions and increasing competition over land and natural resources. “Our report placed strong emphasis on the insecurity challenges. We identified historical distrust, land-grabbing, banditry, and illegal mining as leading factors driving conflicts. The President has reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening peace mechanisms and safeguarding communities,” Essiet said.
According to her, community-based peace platforms are now active in 121 local government areas, including 32 in Niger, 21 in Kogi, and 23 in Benue. Deployment is also scheduled to begin this week across all 17 local councils in Plateau State. These structures will convene traditional authorities, farmers, Fulani representatives, youth groups, and women leaders to foster dialogue and resolve disputes before they escalate.
Essiet further warned that deteriorating road networks, particularly along the Kogi–Kwara axis, are aiding criminal groups. She added that President Tinubu has instructed relevant ministries to prioritize urgent repairs.
In the South-East, the President’s aide on Community Engagement, Barrister Chioma Nweze, reported that a Citizens’ Assembly has been launched to boost public participation and rebuild trust in government interventions.
She also highlighted renewed federal presence in the region. “It has been a long time since the South-East witnessed this level of federal attention. We are now seeing significant road construction under this administration,” Nweze said. She noted that the once-rigid Monday sit-at-home trend is easing, while the President has approved expanded skills and agricultural support programmes across all 95 LGAs in the zone.