Former President Goodluck Jonathan has urged Nigerians and security agencies to move from a state of suspicion to a culture of trust in addressing the security challenges currently confronting the country.
Jonathan stated this at a roundtable on security and civic engagement in Nigeria, organised by Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF), yesterday, in Abuja.
The former president, who is the Chairman of GJF, said that Nigeria, like other countries, faced severe security threats, ranging from insurgency and banditry to kidnapping, communal clashes and cybercrimes.
These challenges, according to him, not only undermine the safety and well-being of citizens but also threaten the very fabric of the country’s unity and economic progress.
He said that while Nigeria had made significant strides in combating some of the threats, the evolving nature of insecurity demanded that the country continually reviewed its strategies and adopt more holistic approaches.
“Security is not just the responsibility of government or security agencies; it is a collective responsibility that requires the active participation of all citizens and stakeholders.
“Today, we gather again as stakeholders, united by a common purpose: to explore ways of addressing these pressing security challenges facing our nation and to seek innovative ways of fostering civic engagement as a tool for sustainable peace and development.
“Citizens often feel frustrated by delays in justice, heavy-handed security measures and the challenge of accountability in governance.
“Security agencies, on the other hand, operate under immense pressure, expected to maintain law and order despite limited resources, institutional constraints and the complexities of modern security threats. “This situation has created a cycle of mutual suspicion.
“Hence, this roundtable presents an opportunity to break the cycle of misunderstanding and clear misconceptions and build a better synergy and co-operation between security forces and the public,” he said.
Jonathan further stated that one of the most significant expected outcomes from the roundtable was to find ways of bridging the gap between security agencies and citizens.
According to him, no society thrives where security agencies and citizens see themselves as opposing forces.
“In the bid to achieve a peaceful, stable and democratic Nigeria, these two interests will have to move from a position of mistrust to one of cooperation.
“We must move from a state of suspicion to a culture of trust, from conflict to cooperation and from fear to mutual understanding,’’ he said.
In his remarks, the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, pledged security agencies’ commitment to a rights-based approach to security that upholds human rights, the rule of law and democratic principles in advancing national security.
