Nigeria is entering a sensitive period in global perception, legislative diplomacy and national security credibility. The recently announced government-sponsored training of 50 Senators—intended to strengthen institutional understanding and prepare lawmakers for international engagement—has triggered avoidable confusion. The public narrative now frames the initiative as a Ministry of Finance project, which is both misleading and strategically counterproductive.
Such an initiative belongs unequivocally under:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, via the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA);
Ministry of Justice, via the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS);
National Intelligence Agency (NIA), for strategic and covert briefings;
Democracy and governance partners such as NDI, KAS, UNDP, among others.
This same lack of strategic alignment was visible in the recent Federal Government delegation to the United States on the CPC/religious persecution issue. The notable absence of the Director-General of the NIA from that delegation leaves much to be desired. The present crisis with the CPC designation threat, U.S. misconceptions and global narrative on insecurity and “Christian genocide” lies squarely within the jurisdiction of the NIA. No matter the political undertones, the DG NIA ought to have been physically present to oversee, coordinate and secure a successful outing—both in overt diplomacy and in the intelligence dimension. Sidestepping the Agency at such a critical moment sends the wrong signal about how seriously Nigeria takes information warfare and strategic perception management.
Allowing the wrong institutions to lead, and the right institutions to be sidelined, weakens confidence in government coordination—especially when the U.S. Congress and other international actors expect coherence and strategic maturity from Nigeria.
THE INTERNATIONAL MEDIA GAP: A STRATEGIC FAILURE
Nigeria presently lacks a coordinated, proactive international communications strategy. In today’s world, the global media environment—and selected local media with international reach—shapes perception faster than formal diplomacy. A country under rising scrutiny for insecurity, human rights concerns and religious tension cannot afford to be passive.
Other nations in similar situations have acted decisively:
Kenya during the ICC era developed a targeted media diplomacy framework.
Sri Lanka after the civil war initiated global briefings to counter skewed narratives.
Colombia during the FARC peace talks engaged top international networks to explain security reforms.
Nigeria has done almost none of this.
Outlets such as Headlinenews.news, along with credible international-facing Nigerian platforms and global media, should be formally empowered to communicate fact-based narratives, debunk inaccuracies and highlight concrete government interventions.
Failing to control Nigeria’s story means others will continue to write it—often unfairly.
DATA MUST LEAD: THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF STATISTICS MUST TAKE CHARGE
One of Nigeria’s greatest weaknesses is the absence of authoritative, unified data. Advocacy groups and external bodies are filling the gap with figures Nigeria disputes, yet Nigeria has not presented a robust official alternative.
The Presidency must direct the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) to immediately:
Establish a dedicated Conflict & Insecurity Data Division;
Produce verified statistics on:
Incidents of violence and terrorism;
Casualties disaggregated by Christians, Muslims and others;
Frequency, intensity and geographic spread of attacks;
Trends showing increases or reductions in incidents and hotspots;
Interface closely with:
Nigerian Army,
Nigerian Police Force,
DSS,
Defence Headquarters,
to harmonise figures, clarify grey areas and ensure that all arms of government are working from the same dataset.
If done correctly, Nigeria’s official data will become the global reference—superseding external reports from agencies that are not on the ground and whose methods are often opaque or politicised.
This may ultimately be Nigeria’s saving grace.
HAS NIGERIA FORMALLY PETITIONED THE UNHRC?
A CRUCIAL, STRATEGIC STEP
Nigeria must not wait for foreign accusations to harden before acting. A formal petition to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) requesting an independent, fact-based assessment would be a masterstroke of proactive diplomacy.
Other nations have taken similar steps:
Ethiopia invited UN experts during the Tigray crisis to allow its side of the story into the record.
Sri Lanka sought UN engagement after its civil war to balance exaggerated or one-sided allegations.
The Philippines opened limited UN human rights engagement to address global concerns over its anti-drug campaign.
In each case, proactive engagement softened external hostility and ensured the country’s own data and realities were reflected in global reports.
Nigeria must do the same. A UNHRC or related UN mechanism inquiry gives Nigeria:
Independent validation of trends and casualty patterns;
A neutral platform to insert NBS-backed data into the global human rights narrative;
Protection against heavily politicised or activist-driven accusations;
Stronger leverage in future engagements with Washington, Brussels, Rome and multilateral institutions.
Silence is no longer an option; silence is interpreted as guilt.
THE CRITICAL DOMESTIC FRONT: TRADITIONAL & RELIGIOUS LEADERS MUST BE BROUGHT IN
Nigeria’s most powerful pillars of social cohesion reside not only in government, but in churches, mosques and palaces across all 36 states. No national security recalibration can succeed without their involvement.
Countries under stress—Indonesia, Egypt, Ethiopia, South Africa—often begin with elite domestic consultations with clerics, emirs, obas, chiefs, bishops and imams, before launching national reforms.
Nigeria urgently needs a Presidential Security and National Cohesion Summit bringing together:
Religious leaders from Christian and Muslim communities;
Traditional rulers from every geopolitical zone;
Interfaith councils and faith-based organisations;
Cultural custodians and palace institutions;
Leaders of major socio-cultural bodies.
Such a forum would:
Brief them on government efforts and constraints;
Harmonise messages going down to the grassroots;
Block the spread of conspiracy theories and sectarian propaganda;
Reassure citizens that government is not indifferent;
Make them partners, not spectators, in the national security effort.
This is not just ceremonial—it is strategic nation-building.
THE PRESIDENCY NEEDS A HANDS-ON STRATEGIC CRISIS TEAM
It is increasingly evident that the Presidency requires a specialised, cross-disciplinary crisis response unit, separate from routine ministerial bureaucracy. The global precedent is clear:
The U.S. National Security Council (NSC),
The U.K. COBRA crisis structure,
Israel’s Security Cabinet,
Rwanda’s Strategy & Policy Unit.
Nigeria’s own strategic unit must integrate:
Security and intelligence strategy (with a central role for NIA, Defence HQ, Police and DSS);
Foreign policy and legislative diplomacy (with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Assembly leadership);
International media/selected local media coordination;
NBS-driven data analytics;
Crisis communication and rapid response.
Nigeria cannot keep fighting modern perception battles and complex security threats with fragmented, slow, ministry-by-ministry reactions.
THE U.S. CONGRESS IS WATCHING—AND WAITING FOR STRUCTURED ACTION
Nigeria is under rising scrutiny from the U.S. Congress, religious freedom bodies, think tanks and global media. Without strong, coordinated responses:
Sanctions proposals may gain traction;
Negative country reports will proliferate;
Diplomatic pressure will escalate;
Nigeria’s global partnerships could erode.
The U.S. is not just listening to what Nigeria says—it is watching what Nigeria does. This moment demands strategic maturity, not bureaucratic confusion.
MOVING FORWARD: WHAT NIGERIA MUST DO NOW
■ Create a high-level Strategic Coordination Unit
Integrating security, diplomacy, intelligence, data and communications.
■ Launch a global media/selected local media counter-narrative campaign
Target major global outlets while empowering platforms like Headlinenews.news and other credible Nigerian voices to push accurate narratives.
■ Empower NBS immediately as the sole official data authority
All MDAs must speak from NBS-verified datasets on insecurity and casualties.
■ Petition the UNHRC for an independent assessment
Take the initiative; don’t wait to be dragged. Put Nigeria’s own data and reality on the record.
■ Convene a Presidential National Cohesion Summit
Bringing together traditional and religious leaders from all 36 states as partners in stabilising the country with the advocacy groups like the National Patriots coordinating.
■ Fully integrate NIA in all high-level international engagements on security narratives
The DG NIA must no longer be absent from key delegations. Information warfare is part of modern diplomacy; the intelligence community must be visibly and structurally involved.
■ Mobilise Nigeria’s most resourceful, competent professionals
Regardless of gender, social status or political alignment. This is a national survival issue, not a party project.
■ Replace Government officials or appointees whose performance falls below acceptable standard with visible results, especially in the area of the security architecture to show seriousness.
CONCLUSION: NIGERIA MUST NOT ALLOW OTHERS TO DEFINE HER STORY
Nigeria stands at a critical crossroads. Insecurity and religious tension are real, but so too are external distortions and politicised narratives. If the government does not act now—with accuracy, coordination and intelligence—others will continue to define Nigeria’s reality in ways that harm her.
As The National Patriots rightly observe:
> “Nigeria must rise to define her truth—through data, strategy, unity and decisive action.”
The tools exist. The institutions exist. The human capacity exists.
The question is whether the political will exists to use them—boldly, intelligently and immediately.
Princess Gloria Adebajo-Fraser MFR.
Headline News
