SECURITY STAKEHOLDERS PUSH FOR STRONGER INSTITUTIONAL COLLABORATION AT RAZOR NEWS INTER-AGENCY AWARDS

RazorNews media, on Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025, convened a high-level Inter-Agency Lecture and Awards ceremony at the Shoregate Hotel, GRA Ikeja, Lagos, drawing together key figures across Nigeria’s security architecture. The event, themed Institutional Collaboration as a Tool for Counter-Terrorism and Crime, brought representatives from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Immigration Service, Nigerian Customs Service, Nigerian Correctional Service, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other critical institutions. The keynote address was delivered by Assistant Commandant of Corps John Attah Onoja, while Dr. Bone Chinye Efoziem served as Guest Speaker. Contributions also came from the Oluwo of Iwo, Rear Admiral Olusanya A. Bankole (rtd) representing the former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa and the Commissioner of Police Lagos State, CP Oluhundare JIMOH, representing the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun.

Before the lecture commenced, award recognitions were extended to outstanding officers and notable individuals. The Inspector General of Police, represented by the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State , CP Oluhundare Jimoh, expressed appreciation for the book Diary of an Audacious Reformer, acknowledging its’ relevance in highlighting ongoing reforms within the police force. Rear Admiral Bankole (rtd), speaking on behalf of the former Chief of Defence Staff, described Sunday Odita as an exceptional writer and commended all awardees, urging them to continue serving with patriotic commitment.

The lecture culminated in a communique emphasizing urgent reforms and collaborative action across Nigeria’s security spectrum. Speakers underscored that crime in Nigeria is borderless and requires seamless cooperation among all security agencies, including structured partnerships with non-state actors such as community vigilantes, traditional rulers, civil society groups and religious institutions. They stressed that national security must supersede ethnic, religious and political considerations, while traditional institutions should play a more defined role in community policing, communal intelligence gathering and ensuring community resources are managed equitably to reduce crime-inducing pressures.

The communique further highlighted the need to address root causes of insecurity, including illegal mining, proliferation of arms, illicit funds, drug abuse, unemployment and weak political will. Participants also called for stronger local and international collaboration, enhanced intelligence-sharing frameworks, joint task forces and the establishment of a centralized control centre for rapid operational response. The message was clear; modern security must be people-centered, intelligence-driven and anchored in strong institutional synergy to effectively counter terrorism and criminality.