The Nigerian Senate has pledged to restore peace and stability to the embattled South-East region, declaring that the area has “bled enough” from years of violence and economic disruption.
Senator Austin Akobundu, chairman of the Senate Adhoc Committee on South-East/North-East for the National Security Summit 2025, made the commitment during a zonal security summit held in Enugu on Friday. The event brought together traditional rulers, religious leaders, security agencies, civil society organizations, and political stakeholders under the theme “Strengthening Nigeria’s National Security Architecture: Innovation, Collaboration and Resilience in a Changing World.”
Commitment to Funding and Action
Senator Akobundu assured residents that the National Assembly would not only appropriate adequate resources for security operations but ensure timely release of funds to restore peace and prosperity to the region.
“Your sacrifices will never be forgotten. You are our greatest assets and heroes in this war against extremism and criminality,” Akobundu told security operatives and community leaders at the summit.
The lawmaker emphasized that the Senate would continue strengthening coordination among security agencies through its constitutional mandate while working to address the root causes of the region’s security challenges.
Region Faces Economic Crisis from Violence
The senator painted a grim picture of the South-East’s current situation, noting that entire communities have been traumatized and displaced, with farmlands abandoned and schools disrupted by ongoing violence.
“The socio-economic aftermath includes spikes in poverty, hunger, disease and illiteracy,” Akobundu lamented, explaining that despite years of efforts, the security situation has continued to deteriorate.
He specifically highlighted how enforced Monday sit-at-home orders and violent tactics employed by non-state actors have crippled the region’s economy. The once educationally dominant South-East now struggles with declining school enrollment and disrupted examinations due to persistent insecurity.
Call for United Front
Uche Ugwu, Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, described the summit as a critical opportunity for stakeholders to listen, understand, and jointly develop solutions to the region’s security crisis.
“Sustainable peace requires collaboration among governments, communities, security agencies, youth groups, traditional institutions, and civil society,” Ugwu stated, calling for sincerity and courage in confronting the challenges.
He emphasized that only through united effort can the South-East achieve the stability and progress its residents desperately seek.
The summit, initiated by the Senate, aims to provide a platform for citizens—particularly those directly affected by insecurity—to contribute practical solutions to what has become one of Nigeria’s most pressing security challenges.
