The North Central Security Summit 2026 has launched a community-based early warning and response network aimed at strengthening grassroots participation in tackling insecurity across the region.
The North Central Community Early Warning and Early Response Network was launched during the summit 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.
The summit, hosted by the Benue State Government, was held at the New Banquet Hall, Government House, Makurdi, under the theme “Collaborative Approach to Strengthening Security and Regional Stability”.
The event brought together governors and representatives of state governments, security and intelligence agencies, traditional and religious leaders, community leaders, members of the National and State Assemblies, government officials and other stakeholders from across the North Central region.
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The network, an initiative of the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, North Central, is designed to improve community-level early warning, intelligence gathering, information sharing and coordinated responses to emerging security threats.
It will also provide a structured platform for communities and relevant authorities to report emerging threats and facilitate timely intervention before conflicts and criminal activities escalate.
Speaking at the summit, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, North Central, Dr Abiodun Essiet, stressed the need to place communities at the centre of efforts to prevent and respond to insecurity.
Dr Essiet noted that residents and traditional institutions were often the first to identify signs of emerging threats, making their involvement critical to effective early warning and conflict prevention.
The summit also focused on improving intelligence sharing and inter-agency coordination, promoting community-based conflict prevention, strengthening early warning and rapid response mechanisms, and addressing socio-economic factors contributing to insecurity in the region.
Representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the summit, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, joined the host Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr Hyacinth Alia, and other dignitaries at the event.
Also in attendance were the Governors of Nasarawa and Plateau States, Engr Abdullahi Sule and Barr Caleb Mutfwang, respectively, as well as representatives of the Governors of Kogi and Niger States.
Other participants included the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro; former Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen; representatives of the Ministers of Information and National Orientation and Steel Development; traditional and religious leaders; members of the National and State Assemblies; security and intelligence chiefs; civil society organisations; community leaders; retired military officers and other stakeholders.
Participants underscored the strategic importance of the North Central region to Nigeria’s national security, food security, economic development and social stability.
They called for sustained collaboration and practical interventions to tackle insecurity at both institutional and community levels.
The Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, North Central, reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening community engagement, promoting peaceful coexistence and building sustainable partnerships among communities, governments, traditional institutions and security agencies.
The launch of the network is expected to strengthen grassroots participation in security management and ensure that early signals of potential threats receive timely and coordinated responses.
The summit therefore renewed the commitment of stakeholders to move from dialogue to practical action towards protecting lives, livelihoods and communities across the North Central region.
