Senate Vows to Restore Peace and Security in South-East at National Security Summit

The Senate Adhoc Committee on South-East/North-East of the National Security Summit 2025 has reaffirmed its commitment to restoring peace and stability across the South-East region.

Speaking at the zonal security summit in Enugu yesterday, the committee chairman, Senator Austin Akobundu, assured residents that the Senate is determined to return the zone to a state of normalcy.

The summit, themed “Strengthening Nigeria’s National Security Architecture: Innovation, Collaboration and Resilience in a Changing World,” brought together stakeholders from traditional and religious institutions, community President-Generals, security agencies, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, civil society groups, and political leaders.

Akobundu emphasized that the National Assembly remains committed to supporting effective collaboration among security agencies, adding that the resources needed to deliver lasting peace, progress, and prosperity in the region would be fully appropriated and released when due.

He acknowledged the contributions of security personnel, religious and traditional leaders, media professionals, and other stakeholders in tackling insecurity.

“I put this clarion call out to them not to rest on their oars but to continue to work in collaboration with one another until our collective goals are achieved.
To our men and officers in the frontline, your sacrifices will never be forgotten. You are our greatest assets and heroes in this war against extremism and criminality,” he said.

Explaining the purpose of the summit, Akobundu noted that the Senate initiated the National Security Summit to formulate a comprehensive and conclusive approach to Nigeria’s persistent security challenges. He said stakeholders, especially those directly affected, must contribute to the search for durable solutions.

He lamented the worsening security situation despite years of attempts to resolve it, pointing out the dire consequences for communities across the South-East.

“Whole communities are traumatised and displaced, farmlands abandoned and schools disrupted. The other grave socio-economic aftermath on our people included spikes in poverty, hunger, disease, and illiteracy,” he said.

Akobundu highlighted the impact of non-state actors, noting that violence had claimed lives, destroyed properties, and forced people from their homes. He added that academic performance in the region had suffered significantly.

He said the Monday sit-at-home order and violent tactics by some agitators had severely damaged the region’s economy and worsened hardship.

In his remarks, Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Uche Ugwu, described the summit as a platform to identify the root causes of insecurity and collectively recommend solutions. He stressed that addressing insecurity required sincerity, courage, and strong partnerships between government, communities, security agencies, traditional institutions, youth groups, and civil society.

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