The Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Major General Abdul Khalifa Ibrahim, has stated that Kaduna State, where the Academy is located, has become more secure in recent times compared to previous years. He acknowledged progress in tackling insecurity and criminal activities but emphasized that more work remains to be done to achieve lasting peace.
Speaking on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by the executive members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State Council, the Commandant noted that while improvements have been made, “we are not yet where we want to be.”
Major General Ibrahim highlighted the critical role journalists play as society’s watchdogs and urged them to help sensitize the public on the importance of reporting suspicious activities to security agencies. He described the NDA and NUJ as “partners in progress,” emphasizing the need for collaboration in building a safer and more informed society.
“We are in the process of launching a security help line that will soon be operational to enable quicker responses to threats. Although NDA is primarily a training institution, we also contribute to security efforts through our Demonstration Battalions, which respond to security issues when necessary,” he explained.
He further added, “I can confidently say that Kaduna is safer now than it used to be, but there’s still room for improvement. We must work together to build a nation we can be proud of. Journalists have a major responsibility to inform, educate, and shape public opinion.”
The Commandant appealed to the NUJ to help amplify the Academy’s activities and support public sensitization efforts around security. He also praised journalists for their contributions to nation-building through information dissemination.
Highlighting the NDA’s broader mandate, he explained that the Academy, which was established over six decades ago, now trains not only Nigerian officers but also cadets from allied countries such as Burkina Faso, Liberia, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo—promoting military diplomacy. So far, the NDA has trained over 20,000 officers from across Africa and beyond.
He also noted the success of the NDA’s Postgraduate School, which opened 20 years ago and continues to attract students nationwide due to the quality of education and integrity of its programs.
In his remarks, NUJ Kaduna Chairman, Alhaji Abdulgafar Alabelewe, praised the NDA for producing highly skilled military officers and called for stronger collaboration between the NDA and NUJ. He requested support for capacity building of journalists and encouraged the Academy to consider extending its social responsibility programs to the union.
“We look forward to a working relationship that will help us effectively report your activities and inform the public accurately,” Alabelewe added.
