NIGERIA: Kaduna Security Situation Improving, Says NDA Commandant

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

The Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Major General Abdul Khalifa Ibrahim, has affirmed that Kaduna State has become significantly safer in recent months, while emphasising that efforts must continue to achieve comprehensive security.

Speaking during a courtesy visit by the executive council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State chapter, at the NDA’s permanent site in Afaka, Igabi Local Government Area, Major General Ibrahim commended recent security improvements but cautioned that more progress is needed.

He said: “I can beat my chest to say that Kaduna State in the last few months is much safer than it used to be. But we are not where we want to be yet.”

The Commandant disclosed that the Academy is in the process of establishing a dedicated security helpline to improve community engagement and facilitate rapid response to threats.

He added: “We are in the process of organising our security helpline, and very soon, it will be operational. If there is anything, we will be able to tackle it much earlier.”

Although the NDA is primarily a training institution, Major General Ibrahim stressed that its personnel, being senior military officers, often support national security efforts beyond academic functions.

He urged journalists to support security initiatives by educating and sensitising the public on the importance of reporting suspicious activity. According to him, media professionals are critical partners in national development and public safety.

The Commandant stated; “Journalists are the watchdogs of society. You are not only informing the public; you are helping to safeguard our communities. There is a strong link between security and development; without one, the other cannot thrive.

He further appealed to the NUJ to assist in highlighting the NDA’s role and contributions to national security.

Major General Ibrahim noted: “Help us in projecting the activities of the NDA. We are both a training institution and a security organisation. We have Demonstration Battalions that assist in security operations when necessary.”

Reflecting on the Academy’s legacy, Ibrahim noted that the NDA has trained over 20,000 officers from Nigeria, other African nations, and beyond in its over 60-year history.

In his response, NUJ Kaduna State Chairman, Abdulgafar Alabelewe, commended the NDA for its role in producing high-calibre military officers and acknowledged the media’s responsibility in fostering peace and unity through accurate and responsible journalism.