Oborevwori Calls For Intelligence-Led Governance
DELTA State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has called for a decisive shift from reactive security management to preventive, intelligence-led and collaborative governance to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
The Governor made the call on Monday when participants of the Advanced Intelligence Officers’ Course 16/2026 from the Defence Intelligence College, Karu, Abuja, visited the state as part of their study tour.
Represented by his Deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, Ph.D., Oborevwori highlighted the importance of integrated intelligence and multi-agency cooperation in protecting critical national assets and promoting regional stability.
He said security challenges confronting the country required intelligence to be translated into timely decisions, effective action and measurable outcomes.
“The security problems confronting Nigeria demand a decisive shift from reactive security management to preventive, intelligence-led and collaborative security governance. Intelligence must translate into timely decisions, effective action and measurable security outcomes,” he said.
The Governor urged the participants, who he described as future senior intelligence and security leaders, to apply the knowledge and experience acquired during the study tour to strengthen national resilience and improve cooperation among security institutions.
Oborevwori expressed satisfaction that Delta State was selected for the study tour, noting its strategic importance as an oil and gas hub, maritime gateway and agricultural belt within the Niger Delta.
He stressed that security and stability in the state had implications for the wider Niger Delta, the protection of critical national assets and the economic security of Nigeria.
According to him, the state government had continued to strengthen cooperation among the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services, Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other relevant stakeholders.
The Governor said the government had also provided logistical support to enhance security operations across the state.
He highlighted the establishment of Operation Delta Sweep as part of efforts to strengthen joint security operations, reduce crime and protect lives and property through coordinated action.
He added that regular State Security Council meetings provided a platform for government and security agencies to assess emerging threats, share intelligence and coordinate appropriate responses.
Oborevwori also cited the establishment of the Office of the Special Adviser on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, which he said was designed to prevent and resolve conflicts, promote reconciliation and foster peaceful coexistence.
He said the Office of the Special Adviser on Intelligence Gathering had also strengthened grassroots intelligence and proactive crime prevention.
The Governor emphasised the importance of community-based intelligence, noting that traditional rulers, presidents-general, community development structures and other local stakeholders played critical roles in providing early-warning information to security agencies.
He recalled that the state government recently convened a security summit themed “Security: A Collective Responsibility,” which brought stakeholders together to strengthen the collective response to terrorism and other forms of criminality.
Oborevwori further disclosed that, following the 2026 Delta State Economic and Investment Summit, the government was developing a Data and Investment Intelligence Hub to support the collection, integration and analysis of reliable data for evidence-based decision-making, economic planning, investment promotion and security management.
At the regional level, he said Delta State continued to pursue security cooperation through platforms such as the BRACED Commission and the Niger Delta Governors’ Forum, particularly in tackling cross-border threats including kidnapping, cultism, illegal bunkering and maritime insecurity.
Earlier, Team Leader of the study tour, Commodore Usman Bugaje, explained that Delta State was selected because of its strategic importance to Nigeria’s economy.
He said the participants considered the state’s economic activities, offshore operations, transportation corridors, movement of finished products and crude oil, as well as its oil and gas industry.
Bugaje added that the presence and operations of various security agencies in the state also made Delta an appropriate location for the study tour.
According to him, the participants were in the state to examine its peculiar security challenges in line with the course theme, “Strengthening National Resilience Through Integrated Intelligence, Multi-Agency Coordination and Regional Security Cooperation.”
He said the team would also engage with residents, assess the efforts of security agencies and learn firsthand about the state government’s approach to coordinating security institutions and traditional authorities towards maintaining peace and security.
