BENIN CITY – The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has called on stakeholders in Edo to strengthen collaboration in tackling security, flood threats and reorientation of national values among youths.
Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, Director-General of the agency said this on Thursday in Benin during a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the agency in the state.
Issa-Onilu, who was represented by the South South Zonal Director of the agency, Comrade Ibor Otu, said the meeting was to sustain the recently launched nationwide campaigns on five thematic areas.
The five focus areas include government policies and programmes, national value reorientation for students, flood mitigation, the Nigeria Identity Project and respect for national symbols, and security awareness for community safety.
The director-general reiterated that the national value reorientation campaign was particularly targeted at youths in secondary and tertiary institutions to discourage extreme practices and restore discipline.
“There has been an alarming decline in the value system, particularly among the youths.
“This campaign is to correct that and align young people with our national values,” he said.
In his remarks, Mr Osahon Woghiren, Edo State Director of the agency said that the initiative was aimed at mobilising communities across the state to embrace the campaign.
“Together, let’s take these messages to every household, every community, and every citizen of our dear nation.
”Security is local, values are local, and our people must take ownership of these campaigns,” she said.
Speaking on behalf of the Commissioner of Police in Edo, CSP Felix Abuah, Officer-In-Charge of Community Policing, emphasised that policing was a shared responsibility.
“Security is not a job that can be done in isolation.
“Without the public giving us timely information, how can we work?
“If you see something, say something. Don’t keep quiet. Crime affects us all, and only when we work together can we achieve results,” he said.
He explained that the state command of the police had been holding community safety partnership meetings with religious leaders, youth groups, traditional institutions, and tertiary institutions to build trust and improve information-sharing.
Mr Efosa Ogbebor, Public Relations Officer of the Edo Command, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) pledged the agency’s readiness to collaborate with other security stakeholders.
“On our part in NSCDC, we are ready to collaborate with all relevant stakeholders to ensure prompt response to any security threat in Edo and across Nigeria,” he said.
The Head of Operations, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Benin Office, Mr Kenoma Ojuedere, focused on flood preparedness, warning that the state remained at risk.
“Disaster management is everybody’s business. Early warning is useless if frontline communities don’t get the campaign message.
“This is why NOA is a critical partner in disseminating flood alerts,” Ojuedere said.
He disclosed that NEMA, in collaboration with NiMet and NIHSA, had already launched the 2025 National Flood Preparedness Campaign, which had been downscaled to the state
“The campaign is built on two pillars, early dissemination of flood warnings and strengthening local response.
“We are currently developing an emergency action plan to ensure a coordinated response when floods occur in Edo,” he added.
Other participants at the meeting included students, representatives of persons with disabilities (JONAPWD), the media, the FRSC, and community-based organisations, who pledged support for the campaigns.
The meeting ended with a collective resolution by stakeholders to share resources, strengthen collaboration, and carry the campaigns to schools, communities, and institutions across the state.
