By Zakari Haruna Isah
The Arewa Cohesion for Peace, Unity and Development Initiative (ACI) has announced plans to hold an "Arewa Awareness Summit on Unity Against Insecurity" this week, as part of efforts to rally stakeholders across Northern Nigeria to confront the region's persistent security challenges.
The announcement was made on Sunday during a pre-event press briefing addressed by the organisation's Director General, Dr Abdullahi Idris, who told journalists that the summit would hold on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at Arewa House in Kaduna, starting at 10:00 a.m.
The one-day event carries the theme, "Unity, Cooperation and Collective Action Against Insecurity in Northern Nigeria," and is expected to bring together policymakers, security experts, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society groups, youth and women organisations, academics, development partners, private sector representatives and the media.
Speaking to reporters, Dr Idris said the initiative was born out of the recognition that insecurity in the North has displaced families, disrupted economic activity and threatened the region's long-standing peaceful coexistence. He said that while government and security agencies have made efforts to tackle the crisis, lasting solutions would require the involvement of every segment of society.
"Security is not the responsibility of security agencies alone; it is a collective responsibility that requires the cooperation of every citizen," Dr Idris said, adding that parents, traditional institutions, religious bodies, schools, community associations and the media all had roles to play in building a safer North.
According to the Director General, the summit aims to strengthen collaboration between communities and institutions, promote intelligence sharing, encourage peaceful coexistence, support youth engagement, and foster partnerships to address both the immediate and root causes of insecurity in the region. He said the gathering would also emphasise community ownership of peacebuilding efforts rather than relying solely on government intervention.
Dr Idris used the briefing to appeal to the media for continued support in promoting balanced and constructive reporting, saying accurate coverage could help counter misinformation and discourage hate speech.
He called on development partners, community leaders, policymakers and other well-meaning Nigerians to support the summit, describing dialogue as one of the most effective tools for resolving conflict and rebuilding trust among the region's diverse communities.
The ACI Director General expressed confidence that the summit would mark a renewed commitment to safeguarding Northern Nigeria for current and future generations.