Strengthening family values crucial for security – Sultan, first lady

National leaders, security experts and traditional rulers have declared that Nigeria’s security and stability depend on strong family systems and coordinated efforts across institutions. Speaking at the opening of Exercise Haske Biyu 2025 at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, Kaduna State, First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; AFCSC Commandant Air Vice Marshal […]

National leaders, security experts and traditional rulers have declared that Nigeria’s security and stability depend on strong family systems and coordinated efforts across institutions.

Speaking at the opening of Exercise Haske Biyu 2025 at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, Kaduna State, First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; AFCSC Commandant Air Vice Marshal Hassan Idris Alhaji; Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III; and Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, all stressed that restoring family discipline, strengthening inter-agency synergy, and implementing reforms are key to safeguarding the nation.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu stressed that strengthening family values is critical to addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.

Represented by Hajiya Nana Shettima, wife of the Vice President, she described the family as the “bedrock of society and a vital pillar of national stability.”

“This parental absence creates a void which often gets filled by bad company and destructive behaviour. The outcome is not only catastrophic for families but also dangerous for national security,” Mrs. Tinubu warned.

She insisted that families must be the first line in instilling values of love, respect, sacrifice and duty. “A strong family builds a strong nation,” she said.

Highlighting President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the First Lady assured that initiatives such as the expanded Conditional Cash Transfer programme delivering N25,000 in three tranches to 15 million vulnerable households would uplift families.

 

Family discipline under siege – Sultan

Similarly, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, raised concerns that corruption, illicit wealth, and unregulated social media are eroding family discipline and weakening Nigeria’s moral foundation.

The Sultan said the family remains the most important foundation of national security.

He further described the family as “the smallest yet most important building block of society,” stressing that weak families produce weak communities while strong families sustain peaceful and resilient nations.

According to him, most of the values that shape a secure and disciplined society are acquired during early childhood within the family. “The world has not and will never invent anything to replace the family,” he declared.

The Sultan traced the role of family values in governance back to the Sokoto Caliphate, noting that Sheikh Abdullahi’s writings on child upbringing served as the Caliphate’s social policy.

He urged Nigerians to draw wisdom from their history instead of relying solely on foreign models.

He warned that modern threats—including unchecked digital content, drug abuse, and the pursuit of illicit wealth—are undermining parental guidance and exposing children to negative influences.

To address these challenges, he called for stronger marriage advisory councils, reforms in basic education to emphasise values, effective drug control, and tighter regulation of harmful online content.

He also urged the government to ensure no child is left out of school, stressing the need for proper funding of institutions responsible for tackling the out-of-school children crisis.

The Sultan appealed to President Bola Tinubu and other leaders to take the family–security connection more seriously, cautioning that Nigeria’s problem is not a lack of ideas but a lack of political will to implement solutions.

 

Synergy solution to Nigeria’s security threats – Gov Sani

On his part, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, represented by his Deputy, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, emphasised that no security institution could succeed in isolation.

“This joint exercise is a critical test of preparedness, aimed at strengthening operational coordination, inter-agency collaboration, and interoperability among our security agencies; qualities that are indispensable in addressing the myriads of security challenges confronting our country today,” he said.

The governor praised the Armed Forces for their sacrifices. “The men and women in uniform stand as a shield for us all, often at great personal cost. Their courage is not unnoticed, and their dedication deserves the gratitude of every Nigerian,” she noted.

He argued that security must be supported by investments in education, social protection, and youth empowerment.

“The security of a nation is not only fought on the battlefield; it is also built in homes, in classrooms, and in communities,” he said.

Sani also drew attention to the theme of this year’s exercise, “Family and National Security.” Quoting American sociologist William J. Goode, he noted: “The family is the basic institution of social control, and when this foundation is weakened, the structures of society falter.”

According to him, dysfunctional families can breed vulnerabilities that expose young people to crime and violence, while strong families nurture “discipline, responsibility, and respect, which are essential to national stability.”

 

Nigeria risks turmoil without urgent reforms – AFCSC

AFCSC Commandant, Air Vice Marshal Hassan Idris Alhaji, cautioned that Nigeria could face severe turmoil if urgent reforms are not implemented.

“A careful assessment of these seismic events led us to estimate that there will be considerable turmoil for the next five years as more countries get ensnared in the various ongoing international conflicts,” he said.

He warned that unless Nigeria strengthens its economy and builds resilience, global crises could spill over to threaten the nation.

“We must work ahead to become clear beneficiaries and not victims when the next global war, miscalculation or unforeseen emergency erupts.

“Ending the current multi-dimensional crises is therefore the first and most important task before us all,” he said, adding that solving security and economic misalignments is key to achieving the trillion-dollar economy vision set by President Tinubu.

He said this year’s Exercise Haske Biyu, conducted for three decades, has been repositioned as a permanent national platform for problem-solving, bringing together the military, police, security agencies, and civilians.

“While as a nation we have always discussed coming together to solve our common problems, we have never had a permanent platform for that to happen,” Alhaji noted. “Therefore, Exercise Haske Biyu has been repositioned to serve this all-important purpose.”

Alhaji said the College intends to re-emphasise the role of families and moral values in nation-building.