Stakeholders comprising youth groups and community development associations (CDAs) have called on the federal and Lagos state governments to integrate non-state actors—particularly youth and grassroots communities—into Nigeria’s security architecture as part of efforts to curb growing insecurity across the country.
The call was made during the second day of the Executive Intelligence Management Course (EIMC) 18 security workshop, themed “Non-State Actors in Security Management: Issues, Challenges, and Projections for Peace and Development in Africa.”
The event, held Thursday in Ikeja, Lagos, was organised by the Lagos state government in partnership with the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS).
Speaking at the workshop, Adigun Ibrahim, chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Lagos chapter, stated that lasting solutions to insecurity must include deliberate engagement of Nigerian youth.
“The government must carry the youth along in every conversation on security. Youth must be engaged across the board. Security agencies also need to reorient themselves to act professionally. Currently, many young people view them with suspicion,” Ibrahim said.
He further proposed the establishment of youth watchdog groups in all 57 local councils of Lagos state to strengthen community policing efforts and intelligence gathering at the grassroots.
“Youth engagement must be consistent and intentional. Government should work collaboratively with young people and be clear on the goals we aim to achieve,” he added.