The Nigerian Government has launched a community-driven early warning and response network for the North Central region as part of efforts to curb insecurity and strengthen regional stability.
The North Central Community Early Warning and Early Response Network was unveiled on Monday at the 2026 North Central Security Summit held at the New Banquet Hall, Government House, Makurdi.
The summit was convened by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, North Central, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Defence, and hosted by the Benue State Government.
It was held under the theme, “Collaborative Approach to Strengthening Security and Regional Stability.”
Representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, joined three serving governors and hundreds of stakeholders, including traditional rulers, security chiefs, lawmakers and civil society leaders.
The network, an initiative of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, North Central, Dr Abiodun Essiet, is designed to link communities directly with security agencies for faster intelligence gathering and response.
Essiet said communities must remain central to efforts to prevent and respond to insecurity, noting that residents and traditional institutions were often the first to detect signs of emerging threats.
“Communities must remain central to Nigeria’s efforts to prevent and respond to insecurity
“Residents and traditional institutions are often the first to observe signs of emerging threats. This network gives them a structured channel to communicate and trigger timely intervention before conflicts escalate,” the Senior Special Assistant stressed.
Under the framework, local communities will provide real-time information through a coordinated system linking traditional leaders, state governments and federal security agencies.
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd), expressed support for the initiative, stressing that lasting peace in the region would depend on stronger cooperation between government and citizens.
The host Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr Hyacinth Alia, described the summit as “long overdue,” noting that the North Central remained critical to the country’s food security and national stability.
Governors Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa and Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau attended the summit, while Kogi and Niger states were represented.
Other dignitaries included the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro; former Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, and representatives of the Ministers of Information and Steel Development.
Discussions at the summit focused on intelligence sharing, inter-agency coordination, community-based conflict prevention, rapid response mechanisms and socio-economic drivers of insecurity, including poverty and displacement.
Participants agreed that insecurity in the region could no longer be tackled by security forces alone, calling for sustained investment in grassroots engagement and early action.
According to the organisers, the launch marks a shift from dialogue to practical implementation, with pilot community hubs expected to be activated across the six North Central states in the coming weeks.
The Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement said it would work with state governments, traditional councils and security agencies to train community monitors and standardise reporting protocols under the new network.
