The Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace, on Thursday declared that Nigeria’s leadership is essential to stabilize West African sub-region.
According to him, Nigeria remains the indispensable “pillar of stability” in the region.
He also called for a renewed commitment to democratic ideals amidst rising regional challenges.
The DG spoke in Abuja during the Voice of Nigeria Forum 2026, themed “51 Years of Nigeria’s Role in Deepening Democratic Stability in ECOWAS,”
He emphasized that Nigeria’s role as the region’s largest economy and most populous nation has been the defining factor in the survival and resilience of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) since its inception in 1975.
Speaking on the current political climate, the DG identified several “urgent” threats currently facing the sub-region.
He said they included Unconstitutional changes of government (coups), Democratic backsliding and electoral tensions., A troubling erosion of public trust in institutions., Growing disenchantment among the youth regarding governance.
According to him, Nigeria’s own trajectory—moving from military rule to over 26 years of uninterrupted democracy since 1999—serves as a blueprint for resilience.
“Many naysayers didn’t believe Nigerian democracy would go beyond the first four years,. We have surmounted every challenge.” he stated
On his part, the Deputy Senate President (DSP), Senator Barau Jibrin, said Nigeria’s fate will be shaped by stability in the West Africa sub-region.
Stressing Nigeria’s unwavering support to the stability and democratic integration of the West African sub-region, he said that its national interest is inextricably linked to the progress of its neighbors.
Highlighting Nigeria’s journey from the 1975 Treaty of Lagos to its current status as a regional pillar of democratic governance.
According to him, Nigeria’s leadership role is not merely a matter of size or population, but a deliberate investment of diplomatic and financial resources.
He cited Nigeria’s consistent efforts in peacekeeping and mediation as evidence that the nation views regional security as a collective responsibility.
”The founding fathers understood that the destiny of West Africa could not be secured through isolated national efforts alone.
“Nigeria has repeatedly affirmed that the stability of West Africa cannot be separated from its own,” he stated.
The Deputy Senate President specifically pointed to the 2001 ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance as a milestone that institutionalized the rule of law and credible elections across the bloc.
In his dual capacity as the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Jibrin emphasized the vital role of legislative bodies in maintaining transparency and oversight.
He pledged that the Nigerian National Assembly would continue to collaborate with regional counterparts to reinforce constitutional order and address emerging security challenges.
”The ultimate test of democracy lies in its ability to improve the lives of citizens,”
Millions of young people in the region, he said, are looking to democratic governance to provide economic opportunities and social justice.
Speaking on the role of the media, Jibrin commended the Voice of Nigeria (VON) for its strategic role in shaping the global narrative about Africa.
He urged media institutions to remain “indispensable” in the fight against misinformation, which he warned can distort public discourse and threaten democratic culture.
He dismissed doomsday predictions regarding Nigeria’s stability, stressing that while democracy allows for dissenting voices, the “greatest percentage” of Nigerians believe the country is working.
At the occasion, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Executive Chairman, Olanipekun Olukoyede, unveiled plans for the agency to begin cross-border investigations within the ECOWAS subregion.
On the forum’s theme of regional stability, Olukoyede announced that the EFCC has spearheaded the establishment of a Network of Anti-Corruption Agencies in West Africa.
Recognizing the link between financial crimes and terrorism financing, the Chairman disclosed that ECOWAS has officially adopted a new protocol to operationalize transnational cooperation.
”Within the next few months, we will operationalize that protocol,” Olukoyede said.
“There will be no embargo on me going to Ghana or any part of West Africa to carry out investigations. We are going to share intelligence and information… to stabilize this part of Africa.”
Noting the tangible successes achieved from asset recovery embarked upon by the agency, Olukoyede also called for greater media objectivity and national unity in the fight against corruption.
He said ”That edifice is evidence that the war against financial crimes in Nigeria is working"
According to him, the imposing structure occupied by VON was a proceed of crime recovered from a former government official during his tenure as Secretary of the Commission.
He, however expressed frustration over partisan narratives that often shadow high-profile investigations, citing a recent case involving a suspect who allegedly diverted $35 million in cash intended for a government. modular refinery.
”We went to the site; even the grass was not cleared, let alone a structure put in place,” Olukoyede revealed.
He lamented that despite clear evidence of the theft of public funds, the commission was accused of “targeting the opposition” as soon as the suspect was arraigned.
”Nobody takes time to look at my proof of evidence… just because the suspect is a member of a political party, it becomes a crime for me to go after them.
"When I arraign members of the ruling party, nobody blinks an eyelid,” he said, urging the media to maintain ethical standards and editorial integrity to safeguard national stability.
He congratulated the Director-General of Voice of Nigeria, Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace, on the agency’s anniversary, reiterating that the fight against corruption remains a collective responsibility essential for the survival of Nigeria’s democracy.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, at the occasion insisted that Nigeria is not on the verge of collapse.
He described such claims as “utterly false” and inconsistent with the nation’s current economic and security trajectory.
He noted that Nigeria’s economic indicators are showing significant turnaround resulting from recent reforms.
According to him, the removal of fuel subsidies and foreign exchange adjustments have stabilized public finances.
”Inflation has eased from about 30% in 2024 to around 15% by the end of 2025, This is not a story of a country that is about to collapse.”
The Minister further revealed that for the first time in 13 years, Nigeria’s foreign reserves have exceeded $50 billion.
The nation’s GDP growth, he said, has surpassed 4%, outperforming previous projections of 3.15%.
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), according to him, is steadily increasing, signaling renewed international confidence.
On the security, he underscored the government’s commitment through the 2026 budget, which allocates ₦5.41 trillion to the security sector the largest single sectoral provision in the nation’s history.
Speaking on hostages rescues in 2025, he said that the Armed Forces rescued over 2,000 kidnapped hostages.
He also reaffirmed Nigeria’s pivotal role in West Africa, stressing that the country’s stability is intrinsically linked to that of the sub-region.
"As a leader within ECOWAS, Nigeria is currently championing an initiative to raise $2.5 billion annually for a 260,000-strong regional counter-terrorism brigade.
Idris commended the Voice of Nigeria (VON) for its evolution since 1961 into a vital tool for public diplomacy, broadcasting in multiple languages to counter misinformation and project Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives.
The event was attended by many dignitaries in Nigeria, including the Royal Father of the Day, HRH, Alhaji (Dr.) Yahaya Abubakar,, Etsu Nupe.