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Nigeria Needs Collaboration, Not Confrontation, Hope Alive Initiative tells US
A civil society group, the Hope Alive Initiative (HAI), has expressed great concern over the recent United States Government classification of Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern ‘ (CPC).
The group, in a statement by its Director of Media and Communications, Ernest Omoarelojie, noted that the attached threat of military intervention significantly undermines the country’s security and diplomatic efforts to address its complex security issues effectively.
While acknowledging that activities of extremist groups resulted in the tragic loss of lives, HAI noted, however, that the outcome is better classified as a manifestation of a complex and multi-dimensional crisis that affects every Nigerian irrespective of faith.
“While we acknowledge with profound sorrow the murderous killings by extremist groups and the tragic loss of innocent lives, we must categorically state that the victims cut across all religious and ethnic divides. This is not a one-dimensional religious conflict but a complex, multidimensional security crisis affecting Christians, Muslims, and adherents of all faiths alike,” the group said.
Rather than being confrontational, the group urged President Donald Trump and the US government to pursue a collaborative posture in line with its stance on the abuse of human rights across the world, adding that the well-informed stance is better achieved through collaboration to enhance regional stability and strengthen the war on terrorism.
“We therefore urge President Donald Trump and the US government to pursue collaboration rather than confrontation—working jointly with Nigeria to enhance regional stability, strengthen counter-terrorism efforts, and ensure the safety and security of all Nigerians.”
Highlighting Nigeria’s strategic importance as Africa’s most populous nation that has always lived up to its enormous responsibilities in terms of the sacrifices it has made over the years, which include being in the forefront in the continent’s decolonisation efforts, and peace keeping operations across the world, the group pleaded that the country needs the understanding and cooperation of the global community in its determination to sort out its challenging security issues.
It added that the country’s demonstrable efforts, including enhanced intelligence and inter-agency collaboration, community based security initiatives that prioritise early warnings and local resilience, implementation of the National Counter-Terrorism Strategy, and expansion of the Interfaith Dialogue Platform, while at the same time upping the ante on its kinetic approach, are enough for it be treated with the respect that it rightly deserves among the committee of nations.
“Nigeria stands as Africa’s most populous nation. It has made enormous sacrifices in blood and treasure for African decolonisation, the emancipation of the black race, and peacekeeping operations in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and across the world. We deserve to be treated with respect and accorded our rightful place among the nations.
Contrary to claims that Nigeria has been sitting idle, the government has committed substantial resources and implemented comprehensive initiatives. These include increased year-on-year security and defence budgets, various military and security operations across the country, and multi-pronged non-kinetic measures that demonstrate our unwavering commitment to protecting all Nigerians, irrespective of religion or ethnicity, through action, not rhetoric,” the group explained
HAI therefore called for global support for Nigeria in its intensified diplomatic engagements with its allies, including the US, UK, China, the EU, African Union and the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, with a view to garnering the much-needed collaboration in the area of intelligence sharing, border and capacity building.
HAI is a pro-good-governance and development advocacy group in Nigeria.
The Chief Executive Officer of Adron Group, Sir Aare Adetola Emmanuelking, KOF, has congratulated His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife, on the occasion of his 10th coronation anniversary.
In a goodwill message, Aare Emmanuelking described the monarch’s decade-long reign on the revered throne of Oduduwa as divinely inspired, visionary, and transformational, noting that it has ushered in a new era of cultural renaissance and national unity.
He stated that since his ascension, the Ooni has redefined traditional leadership by modernising kingship, reviving Yoruba cultural identity, and strengthening Ile-Ife’s position as the spiritual and cultural epicentre of the Yoruba people.
According to him, the monarch’s leadership has significantly advanced youth empowerment, cultural diplomacy, innovation, and community development, while also strengthening ties between Africa and the global African diaspora.
Aare Emmanuelking commended the Ooni for successfully combining the preservation of ancient traditions with progressive governance, peacebuilding, and sustainable development initiatives, describing him as a beacon of cultural pride and purposeful leadership.
Speaking on behalf of his family, the Board, and Management of Adron Group, he expressed gratitude to God for the monarch’s impactful reign. He prayed for renewed strength, wisdom, and long life as he continues to serve the Yoruba nation and Nigeria at large.
A security stakeholder and community engagement expert, Henry Bassey, has faulted the call by the Senator representing Osun East, Francis Fadahunsi, for the replacement of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, with a retired military officer.
Fadahunsi had, in a statement issued on December 2, 2025, urged President Bola Tinubu to appoint a former military officer as NSA and redeploy Ribadu to another national assignment.
Reacting, Bassey described the call as “dangerous, outdated and inconsistent with modern security leadership.”
He said, “The call to replace Mallam Nuhu Ribadu with a retired military officer reflects a narrow and outdated understanding of national security. What Nigeria needs is results, not recycled arguments rooted in obsolete assumptions.”
Bassey explained that national security had gone beyond military hardware to include political, economic, environmental, food, energy and cyber considerations.
He noted that globally, the NSA position is often held by civilians with deep policy and intelligence backgrounds, citing the United States where the current NSA, Jake Sullivan, is a civilian lawyer.
“Even in Nigeria, former police chiefs like Gambo Jimeta and Aliyu Ismaila Gwarzo served as NSA and performed excellently,” he said.
According to him, Ribadu’s background in intelligence, anti-corruption, inter-agency coordination and counter-terrorism makes him well suited for the office.
“The NSA is not a combatant position. It requires strategic thinking, intelligence coordination and integrity, qualities Ribadu has demonstrated for decades,” Bassey added.
He warned that the notion that only military officers could command respect within the armed forces was dangerous in a democratic setting.
Bassey urged the Federal Government to sustain the current security architecture under Ribadu, stressing that “excessive militarisation of the NSA office will only weaken Nigeria’s broader security framework.”
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FLAG OFFICER COMMANDING CENTRAL NAVAL COMMAND AIR OFFICER COMMANDING MOBILITY COMMAND FORGE STRONGER ALLIANCE TO COMBAT OIL THEFT
Thursday 4 December 2025 – The Central Naval Command (CNC) and the Nigerian Air Force Mobility Command have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening synergy to tackle rising insecurity, particularly the menace of crude oil theft, in the Niger Delta region.
The commitment was the highlight of a significant visit by the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) CNC, Rear Admiral Suleiman Ibrahim, to the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Mobility Command, Air Vice Marshal MN Onyebashi, at the NAF base in Yenagoa.
During the meeting, Rear Admiral Ibrahim pledged full cooperation, stating, “The Central Naval Command under my watch would work hand-in-hand with the Mobility Command to achieve the mission and vision of our both services.” He stressed that the collaboration aligns with the Chief of the Naval Staff’s (CNS) Leadership and Command Ethos, thanking Vice Admiral Idi Abbas for his guidance.
In his response, Air Vice Marshal Onyebashi expressed the Mobility Command’s readiness to strengthen the existing relationship, emphasizing that this renewed synergy would lead to significant improvements in security.
He specifically outlined the Mobility Command’s support:
Intelligence Gathering: Conducting joint maritime and air patrols aimed at gathering critical intelligence.
Targeting Illegalities: Directing efforts against crude oil theft and other illegal activities within both commands’ Areas of Responsibility.
AVM Onyebashi lauded the choice of Rear Admiral Ibrahim as FOC CNC, noting his professionalism and familiarity with the Niger Delta region. “Our continued collaboration will enhance the prosperity of the Nation,” the AOC maintained.
Attached are relevant pictures, Sir.
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