By Ijendu Iheaka
Umuahia, July 31, 2026
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, says President Bola Tinubu wants a peaceful South-East region where Nigerians live in peace and enjoy stability and development.
Idris said this on Friday at a news conference on the sidelines of the South-East Regional Security Summit in Umuahia, Abia.
The summit, themed “Collaborative Approaches to Strengthen Security and Regional Stability” was organised by the Federal Ministry of Defence, in collaboration with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, South-East.
The Minister said the Summit gathered key stakeholders across the region, including government representatives, security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders, political stakeholders, professionals, and youth representatives.
These stakeholders, he said, were committed to finding sustainable solutions to the security challenges confronting the South-East.
The Minister, who commended the organisers for the summit, said the stakeholders’ participation had demonstrated shared understanding that security remained a collective responsibility.
“The Federal Government’s message is clear because President Bola Tinubu’s administration has always emphasised that every Nigerian has the right to live, work and pursue prosperity in a safe and secure environment.
“The security challenges facing the South-East, like other parts of Nigeria, require a comprehensive approach — one that combines effective law enforcement, intelligence-driven operations, community engagement, economic empowerment and development.
“President Tinubu has continued to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture through enhanced support for security agencies, improved operational capacity, intelligence coordination and closer collaboration among federal, state and community stakeholders,” he said.
According to him, the Federal Government recognises lasting security cannot be achieved through force alone.
He said, “Peace and stability are strengthened when citizens have economic opportunities, young people have hope, businesses can thrive and communities have confidence in government.
“This is why the Renewed Hope Agenda places security within a broader framework of economic development, infrastructure renewal, human capital investment and social inclusion.
“The summit also reinforces the administration’s commitment to listening to citizens, engaging communities and working with stakeholders across the country to develop solutions reflecting local realities.
“It also provided an opportunity to highlight the broader efforts of the Federal Government to reposition Nigeria for sustainable growth and development,” the minister said.
He said the government recognised the enormous potentials of the South-East, adding that it remains committed to creating necessary conditions for the region’s businesses, industries and communities to prosper.
According to him, Tinubu’s leadership is passing Nigeria through major reforms aimed at rebuilding the foundations of a stronger economy, improving infrastructure, expanding opportunities and strengthening national competitiveness.
He said Tinubu inherited significant economic challenges, including fiscal pressures, declining revenues, exchange rate distortions and structural weaknesses that constrained growth for years.
“The President made the difficult decision to implement reforms necessary to correct these challenges and place Nigeria on a path of sustainable economic recovery.
“The removal of fuel subsidy and reforms in the foreign exchange market were part of a broader efforts to create a more transparent, productive and investment-friendly economy,” he said.
He said government understands reforms come with responsibilities, hence it continued introducing interventions to support Nigerians, including programmes for small businesses, consumer credit initiatives, student financing and social protection measures.
According to him, the objective is to build an economy where Nigerians can produce more, businesses can expand and opportunities can multiply.
“A peaceful South-East will attract investments, become a growing economy that will create opportunities and empower populations that will strengthen national stability.
“President Bola Tinubu remains committed to building a Nigeria where every region can realise its potential and where every citizen can look forward to a future of greater opportunity.” He said.
