NOA urges Nigerians to be security conscious during yuletide
As 2024 draws to a close, the National Orientation Agency has appealed to citizens across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to remain vigilant and security-conscious during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
The agency encouraged citizens to promptly report any suspicious activities or unknown individuals in their communities to security agencies for swift action.
Director General of NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, made this appeal on Monday in Lafia, Nasarawa State, during a briefing on the agency’s ongoing nationwide awareness campaigns.
Speaking on the theme, “Promoting Awareness, Ethical Values and National Development”, Issa-Onilu who was represented at the event by the Director, Finance and Accounts at the Agency’s National Headquarters, Sule Haruna urged the citizens to collaborate with the federal government in order to tackle the security challenges facing the country.
The DG explained that apart from the ongoing awareness campaign on Security, the Agency was also carrying out awareness campaigns to discourage Get-Rich-Quick Syndrome among the citizens; Human Rights, HIV/AIDS, and Tax Reforms Bill, among others.
He said, “Security remains a top priority of the government as it is required and expressed in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Some of the efforts of the government to address insecurity include strengthening the security architecture, increased funding for security agencies and expanding policing initiatives in order to improve collaboration between the citizens and law enforcement agencies.
“NOA is therefore urging the citizens to always report suspicious activities to the security agencies and be conscious of the fact that security begins with each one of us.”
On her part, the Nasarawa State Director of the NOA, Priscilla Gondoalour reiterated the Agency’s commitment to continue to work hard towards ensuring that the entire residents of the state are constantly enlightened on the policies and programmes of the federal government.
She assured that the NOA in the state will henceforth hold regular stakeholder engagements/town hall meetings, visit primary, secondary and tertiary institutions; places of worship, community development associations both at the state and local government levels, hold road shows and social media campaigns.
She added, “In all of these, the citizens will be enlightened on specific government policies and programmes as they interact through questions and answers, as well as making their inputs for nation-building.”
