Nigeria’s War on Insecurity and Corruption Yielding Results-Says NOA DG
By Raphael Ekpang
Abuja (Core Reporters) The Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu has revealed that the country’s efforts to combat insecurity and corruption are yielding positive results. He said the number of fatalities from violent crimes has dropped by 12% in the past month, while arrests of major suspects have increased by 33%..
Issa-Onilu disclosed this on Monday, November 3, 2025, at the October 2025 edition of the Joint Security Press Briefing (JSPB) held at the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja, where he presented what he described as “evidence-based progress in Nigeria’s national security and accountability architecture..
“What we have today is not rhetoric — it is measurable progress,” Issa-Onilu stated firmly.“For the first time in many years, Nigeria’s security and anti-corruption agencies are working within a single intelligence and communication ecosystem. This is the Renewed Hope Agenda in action.”
Presenting fresh national security data, the NOA DG revealed that fatalities from violent crimes fell by 12% between September and October 2025, dropping from 210 to 185, while arrests of major suspects increased by 33% due to stronger intelligence coordination among the military, police, and intelligence agencies.
“These figures prove that our security forces are no longer operating in isolation,” Issa-Onilu said. “The shift from reactive to preventive security operations means lives are being saved before threats escalate.”
According to him, the rescue of abducted victims also rose by 40% across hotspots in Kogi, Zamfara, and Kaduna, while cross-border interventions increased from four to seven, following closer collaboration between the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), and the Department of State Services (DSS).
“This new tempo of cooperation has redefined inter-agency synergy,” he stressed. “Security is now built on intelligence, coordination, and community engagement.”
Turning to anti-corruption, Issa-Onilu revealed that both the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have sustained a strong enforcement tempo, leading to record asset recoveries.
He said, the ICPC received 44 petitions, concluded 15 investigations, filed five new cases, and recovered ₦840 million and $919,000 in October alone.
He added that under EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, the Commission recovered a cumulative ₦566.3 billion and $411.6 million between 2023 and 2025, with over 1,500 properties forfeited and part of the recovered funds reinvested in students’ loan and consumer credit schemes.
“This is Renewed Hope Accountability in practice,” Issa-Onilu emphasized.
“For the first time, recovered loots are being recycled into the economy — to fund education, credit, and healthcare, not to sit idle in government coffers.”
In what he called “a new season of consequence and professionalism,” the NOA boss highlighted multiple breakthroughs across regulatory and enforcement agencies.
”NAFDAC seized 70 containers of fake or substandard goods and shut down illegal warehouses in Lagos and Onitsha.
”NDLEA dismantled 14 major drug syndicates, arrested 1,378 suspects, and secured 251 convictions in October alone.
”NIS rescued 76 victims of human trafficking and processed 15,000 digital visa applications under its modernized migration system.
”FRSC recorded a 12% drop in fatal crashes during the Ember Months awareness campaign.
”NCoS expanded inmate rehabilitation and mental health outreach in correctional centers nationwide.
“The numbers tell a clear story,” Issa-Onilu said. “Government agencies are now operating on the principle of efficiency through accountability. Every enforcement action, every prosecution, every recovery is logged, verified, and publicly reported.”