By Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting
THE Federal Government has reaffirmed its determination to establish State Police across Nigeria, with the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, declaring that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is fully committed to seeing the reform materialise once the necessary legislative hurdles are cleared.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC) at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, the Minister stressed that decentralising the country’s policing architecture has become essential in confronting evolving security threats.
“It is the desire of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that we have State Police as soon as it is practicable in this country. The time has indeed come for that,” Idris stated, revealing that the President has already appealed to the National Assembly to expedite the appropriate legislation.
The Minister, who received the CCC delegation led by its Chairman, Major General Chris Olukolade (Rtd), emphasised that strengthening internal security must go hand-in-hand with modernising national communication systems. He noted that in today’s digital landscape, crises are shaped not only by events but by the rapid velocity of information.
“In today’s digital age, crises are no longer only defined by events, but also by how information spreads as fast as it does,” he observed. “Digital innovation is therefore central to timely, accurate and coordinated communication, especially during moments of national importance.”
Idris welcomed proposals from the Centre, including the establishment of a National Crisis Communication Hub and a Crisis Communication Performance Index, describing these initiatives as closely aligned with his Ministry’s core mandate. He assured the delegation that the Ministry would carefully study the report of the November 2025 National Symposium on Digital Innovation and Crisis Communication, exploring areas where its recommendations could complement ongoing Federal Government reforms.
He further cautioned that while artificial intelligence, social media and other digital tools have become indispensable, they must be deployed responsibly, honestly and patriotically—balancing freedom of expression with national interest and public trust.
Earlier, Major General Olukolade expressed gratitude to the Minister for his support toward advancing crisis communication reforms in Nigeria. He recalled the National Symposium held in November 2025, noting that the Minister’s presence had lent “so much weight and the necessary authority and integrity to a gathering that brought together spokespersons, technology experts, security personnel, scholars and media professionals from across the country.”
The CCC Chairman revealed that the symposium had produced comprehensive and actionable recommendations to modernise Nigeria’s crisis communication system through stronger infrastructure, enhanced capacity, and inclusive governance. He specifically appealed for the Minister’s endorsement of the proposed National Crisis Communication Hub and the performance index framework, describing them as critical to real-time monitoring, coordinated responses to misinformation, and strengthening institutional accountability.
In response, the Minister commended the Centre for its role in fostering inter-agency collaboration, research, training and media monitoring, including its monthly Strategic Communication Inter-Agency Policy Committee meetings conducted in partnership with the Office of the National Security Adviser. He reiterated that government cannot work in isolation and welcomed constructive engagement with credible civil society organisations and professional bodies to strengthen Nigeria’s communication architecture.
The meeting was attended by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Ogbodo Chinasa Nnam; Director of Public Relations and Protocol, Dr Suleiman Haruna; Special Assistant on Administration to the Honourable Minister, Dr Sunday Baba, FNIPR; Rear Admiral Aminu Almu; Commodore Kabir Aliyu, Executive Secretary of the Centre for Crisis Communication; Alhaji Yushau Shuaib, founder of PRNigeria; and other top management staff.
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