By TOLU AIYEGBUSI

Traditional rulers, religious leaders, security chiefs and policymakers on Friday came together for the maiden National Citizens Stakeholders’ Engagement organised by the Project 774 Network.

The aim of the gathering with the theme, “Our Security, Our Duty: Citizens Standing with Our Troops to End Terrorism, Banditry and Kidnapping”, was to build a stronger, more inclusive and sustainable security framework.

The stakeholders all agreed that lasting peace in Nigeria required moving beyond crisis response to fixing its root causes.

The convener of project 774, Mohammed Ibrahim, said that the core beauty of the project lied in its ability to bring all sides together.

“Wherever you find a gap between leaders and citizens, the only thing to do is unite both sides for a common cause. I am happy we have people with a genuine desire to take this country forward as one,” he said.

Drawing from experience, he recalled how commitment to nationhood went beyond official titles.

“You do not need to be a governor, minister or ambassador to serve this nation.

“All you need is the heart of one who loves Nigeria, and the will to act from wherever you stand,’’ he said.

He highlighted Nigeria’s immense potentialss, saying Nigeria is one of the greatest countries the world.

According to him, it is the only nation where the land holds wealth that can fund all we need.

“We have the resources; what we need now is the unity and will to channel them toward solutions that lift every citizen,’’ he said.

Chief Convener, the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, said that the name “774” stands for the nation’s total number of local government areas.

Sanusi said the summit moved beyond reacting to crises to building lasting systems where every Nigerian contributes to peace.

The traditional leader also decried a widening class divide and fading sense of shared citizenship.

“Security works best when it belongs to everyone. We have become a highly divided society where a small wealthy minority lives in exclusive estates, cut off from the struggles of the majority.

“We have forgotten that every blessing is meant to be shared, and that prosperity should reach down to the most vulnerable” he said.

He further highlighted drug abuse as a silent driver of violence.

“Many of those carrying out these atrocities are not in their right minds; they are under the influence of hard drugs.

“Insecurity anywhere is a threat to everyone everywhere. We must share information with security agencies, rebuild moral values in our communities, and work together to reclaim our nation,’’ he said.

Guest Speaker, Professor Sunday Lugard of the Faculty of Law, University of Jos, said that sustainable security thrived on partnership.

Lugard recalled how security experts had long foreseen the dangers facing the nation and called for a fundamental shift towards a citizen-centric approach to security governance,

“Laws and operations are important, but trust and active participation make them work.

“When communities stand with their troops, we close gaps that criminals exploit,” he said.

He urged delegates to use the summit to design clear, safe systems for communities to feed intelligence to police, military and the judiciary, and to ensure that every citizen can contribute without fear.

“Security is not just what the government does for us, it is what we build together, from the village up to the centre,” he said

He also emphasised the need to deploy indigenous security services.

“Our people trust us. We will use that standing to foster cooperation, promote peace and ensure that every community becomes a partner in protecting our nation,” he said. (NAN)

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