Kaduna, Nigeria – Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, alongside the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, and Bishop Matthew Kukah, have identified the erosion of family values as a key driver of insecurity and social vices across the nation.
Speaking at the opening of Exercise Haske Biyu 2025 at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna State, Mrs. Tinubu—represented by the wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima—said families must reclaim their role as the bedrock of society.
On the theme “Family and National Security”, she stressed that parental neglect and the struggle for survival have left many children vulnerable to cultism, drug abuse, prostitution, and extremist ideologies.
“This parental absence creates a void which often gets filled by bad company and destructive behaviour. The outcome is catastrophic for families and dangerous for national security,” she warned.
The First Lady emphasized that strong families remain the foundation of a united Nigeria, urging parents, religious leaders, and traditional rulers to intensify efforts in teaching morals, faith, and positive values. She highlighted government initiatives such as the Conditional Cash Transfer programme, which will deliver N25,000 in three tranches to 15 million vulnerable households, as part of the administration’s support for families.
The Sultan of Sokoto, in his remarks, described the family as the “smallest yet most important building block of society,” stressing that weak families produce fragile communities and unstable nations. He warned that corruption, illicit wealth, and the negative influence of technology and social media are eroding discipline among children.
To reverse this trend, he called for stronger marriage advisory councils, value-based curriculum reforms, effective drug control, and tighter regulation of harmful digital content.
Delivering a paper on “Relationship Between Family Dynamics and National Security”, Bishop Kukah—represented by Rev. John Joseph Hayab—said defective upbringing and lack of education are major factors driving youth radicalisation. He urged parents to take seriously the responsibility of raising disciplined, responsible citizens.
Earlier, Commandant of the AFCSC, Air Vice Marshal Hassan Idris Alhaji, described Exercise Haske Biyu as a bold initiative designed to strengthen inter-agency collaboration in tackling internal security challenges. Running from September 15 to October 3, the programme will feature strategic lectures, operational drills, and simulations aimed at producing actionable solutions to Nigeria’s security threats.
