The Federal Government has launched the Safe Nigeria Initiative, a youth-focused programme aimed at empowering over 11,000 young Nigerians as part of efforts to address insecurity across the country.
Also known as Youth Empowerment for Peace and Resilience, the initiative was launched on Tuesday in Abuja by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and is being coordinated by the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in collaboration with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
Speaking at the launch, Ribadu—represented by the National Coordinator of the NCTC, Maj. Gen. Adamu Laka—said the programme was designed to complement Nigeria’s counterterrorism and security operations by tackling the underlying social and economic drivers of insecurity.
He explained that challenges such as violent extremism, banditry, kidnapping, and organised crime are often rooted in poverty, unemployment, social exclusion, trauma, and limited access to opportunities. According to him, addressing these issues through non-kinetic interventions is essential for achieving sustainable peace.
The NSA noted that the Safe Nigeria Initiative would equip vulnerable youths with practical skills, livelihood opportunities, psychosocial support, and civic education, making them less susceptible to recruitment by criminal and extremist groups.
Also Read: N-Power Update: FG Assures Beneficiaries of Payment Amid Ongoing Programme Review
“Violent extremism, organised crime, banditry, kidnapping, and other security threats are not isolated phenomena; they are symptoms of deeper structural challenges such as poverty, unemployment, social exclusion, and trauma. These conditions create vulnerabilities that criminal and extremist groups exploit,” he said.
He added that the initiative bridges humanitarian response and national security objectives by focusing on youth empowerment. “Young people who are economically productive, socially included, and psychologically supported are far less likely to be drawn into crime or violent extremism.”
Ribadu further stated that the programme has nationwide coverage and is expected to benefit more than 11,000 youths, describing it as a deliberate investment in prevention and long-term stability.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Mrs Delu Yakubu, said the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. She described it as a shift toward people-centred, non-kinetic security approaches that prioritise skills development, economic empowerment, and social cohesion.
According to her, the programme will provide vocational training, entrepreneurial support, peacebuilding education, and psychosocial care to youths, particularly those in vulnerable and conflict-affected communities.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, said Nigeria’s youthful population remains one of its greatest strengths, but stressed that this advantage can only be realised through sustained investment in skills development.
He noted that skills acquisition is critical to addressing unemployment, insecurity, and economic competitiveness. “A more skilled population is not only an economic asset but also a strategic tool for inclusion, resilience, and long-term national stability,” he said.
In his remarks, the Director-General of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Abdulateef Shittu, said the Safe Nigeria Initiative reflects a shared understanding that lasting security cannot be achieved through force alone, but through prevention, inclusion, and opportunity.
Also Read: Step-by-Step Guide To Apply for Renewed Hope Ward Development Program 2026
Shittu added that state governments are ready to support the programme’s implementation through community engagement and coordination, describing youth empowerment as both a social policy priority and a national security imperative that requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.
The launch of the initiative comes amid persistent security challenges across the country, including insurgency, banditry, and kidnapping—issues authorities have linked to youth unemployment, poverty, and social exclusion—prompting a shift toward preventive, people-centred security responses.
