*Meets with Defence Intelligence College members
The Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has called for stronger collaboration among security agencies and improved intelligence gathering as critical measures for addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.
Speaking while receiving participants of the Defence Intelligence College, Abuja, on a courtesy visit to the Government House, Owerri on Friday, Uzodimma said national security is a collective responsibility that requires seamless cooperation among all security institutions and government at all levels.
He commended the College for exposing its participants to practical field experience, expressing confidence that their findings and recommendations would assist governments in developing effective strategies to combat insecurity.
“The successes we have recorded in Imo State can largely be attributed to the smooth cooperation among security agencies. National security is not the responsibility of one agency alone,” the Governor said.
Uzodimma identified unemployment, infrastructure deficits and rapid population growth without corresponding economic opportunities as major drivers of insecurity.
According to him, economic development remains the most effective long-term solution to the nation’s security concerns.
He urged intelligence officers to strengthen coordination, share information more effectively and engage local communities to enhance preventive security measures.
The Governor further encouraged the visiting participants to interact with security agencies in the State and draw lessons from Imo’s experience, expressing optimism that their research would produce practical recommendations capable of improving security management across the country.
He thanked the delegation for choosing Imo State for the study visit and praised the sacrifices of security personnel in safeguarding Nigeria’s unity and stability.
Participants of Course 25 of the Defence Intelligence College (DIC), Abuja, have embarked on a study tour of Imo State to examine the role of operational intelligence in crisis prevention and national security.
Leader of the delegation, Commodore Usman Bugaje, disclosed that they were in Imo State to examine the role of operational intelligence in crisis prevention and national security.
Bugaje said the visit formed part of the College’s practical training programme, designed to complement classroom instruction with field experience. He explained that participants would interact with security agencies, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to assess the State’s security architecture.
According to him, the findings would be compiled into a research paper containing recommendations to strengthen security in Imo State and Nigeria.
“We selected Imo State because of the remarkable improvements in security recorded under Governor Uzodimma’s administration,” he said.
Bugaje thanked the Governor for hosting the delegation and described Imo as his “second home,” recalling his previous security assignments and contributions to peace and democratic stability in the state.
Present at the event were the Deputy Governor, Lady Chinyere Ekomaru, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie and some members of the State Expanded Executive Council.
