The Federal Government has introduced the Safe Nigeria Initiative, a youth-focused programme aimed at empowering 11,000 vulnerable young people as part of a broader strategy to curb insecurity across the country.
The initiative also known as Youth Empowerment for Peace and Resilience was unveiled on Tuesday in Abuja by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The programme is being coordinated by the National Counter Terrorism Centre in partnership with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
Represented by the National Coordinator of the NCTC, Maj. Gen. Adamu Laka, Ribadu said the project was created to reinforce counterterrorism efforts by addressing the social and economic drivers of insecurity.
“Nigeria’s security challenges are tied to deeper issues like unemployment, social exclusion, trauma and poverty,” he said. “These conditions open the door for extremist and criminal groups to prey on vulnerable youths.”
He explained that the Safe Nigeria Initiative would offer skills training, livelihood support, psychosocial services and civic education to young people across the country.
“Young Nigerians who are economically productive and socially supported are far less likely to be lured into violence or crime,” he added.
Ribadu noted that the programme is designed to reach more than 11,000 beneficiaries nationwide.
“This initiative is a deliberate investment in prevention,” he said.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Mrs. Delu Yakubu, said the programme aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“This represents a shift toward people-centred, non-kinetic security solutions that prioritise empowerment and social cohesion,” she said.
Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, stressed that Nigeria’s youthful population remains one of its biggest advantages if properly equipped.
“Skills acquisition is essential for reducing unemployment and strengthening national stability,” he said.
Director-General of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Abdulateef Shittu, said the initiative shows a shared belief that lasting peace requires more than military strength.
“True security comes through inclusion, prevention and opportunity,” he said, adding that states remain committed to supporting implementation at community level.
The initiative comes amid ongoing security challenges, including insurgency and banditry, which authorities say are linked to poverty and youth marginalisation.
