Pix: DG Isa-Onilu

The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, has stressed the urgent need to strengthen grassroots intelligence gathering as a vital tool for enhancing the security of both military personnel and the civilian population across Nigeria.

Represented by Chinenye Ezewuzie, Deputy Director, Community Safety Awareness and Compliance Dept, NOA, at the 2026 People’s Security, Annual Security Summit held in Abuja, the NOA Director-General said security challenges confronting the nation require greater collaboration between security agencies and local communities. He noted that timely and credible intelligence from residents remains one of the most effective means of preventing criminal activities and supporting security operations.

According to him, communities occupy a strategic position in the nation’s security architecture because they are often the first to observe suspicious movements, emerging threats, and unusual activities within their environment. He urged citizens to embrace their civic responsibility by providing useful information to security agencies, while assuring them that their contributions can significantly improve national safety and stability.

Mallam Issa-Onilu observed that military and other security personnel operating in volatile areas face increasing risks due to the activities of terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal elements. He stated that reliable grassroots intelligence can help security operatives anticipate threats, avoid ambushes, and conduct more effective operations aimed at safeguarding lives and property.

The NOA Director-General further called for sustained public enlightenment campaigns to build trust between communities and security institutions. He said citizens are more likely to share information when they have confidence in the responsiveness, professionalism, and accountability of security agencies. He added that national security should be viewed as a collective responsibility rather than the sole duty of government and security forces.

He commended the organisers of the People’s Security Monitor Security Summit for providing a platform that promotes dialogue on contemporary security challenges and solutions. He expressed confidence that stronger community engagement, improved intelligence-sharing mechanisms, and greater public participation would contribute significantly to strengthening Nigeria’s security framework and enhancing national resilience.