The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), in collaboration with Operation SAFE CORRIDOR (OPSC), has convened a high-level stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja to finalise modalities for the transfer of rehabilitated clients to their respective national and state authorities for reintegration.
According to a statement by the Director, Defence Information, Samaila Uba, the meeting, held at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, brought together representatives of federal ministries, the Office of the National Security Adviser, state governments, neighbouring countries including Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger and Cameroon, as well as international partners such as Norway, the United Kingdom, the European Union, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Delivering the keynote address, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Chairman of the OPSC National Steering Committee, Olufemi Oluyede, represented by the Chief of Defence Operations, Major General Jamal Abdusalam, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to peacebuilding and national recovery.
The CDS described Operation SAFE CORRIDOR as a critical pillar of Nigeria’s security architecture, noting that while kinetic military operations create space for stabilisation, structured rehabilitation and reintegration efforts are essential to consolidating gains and preventing a relapse into violence.
“Since its inception in 2016, Operation SAFE CORRIDOR has processed thousands of clients through a controlled and integrity-driven Disarmament, Rehabilitation and Reintegration framework. When properly screened and coordinated, surrender pathways degrade insurgent cohesion, generate actionable intelligence and support long-term stability,” he said.
Earlier, the Coordinator of Operation SAFE CORRIDOR, Brigadier General Yusuf Ali, commended the CDS for his leadership and institutional support, noting that the expansion of the programme is anchored on enhanced jointness, improved welfare and sound administration under a whole-of-government framework.
He explained that OPSC is a multi-agency humanitarian stabilisation programme backed by the Constitution of Nigeria and relevant international humanitarian and human rights instruments, drawing personnel from 17 Services, Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
According to him, the programme has evolved institutionally since its inception, with strengthened screening mechanisms, refined ideological disengagement modules, improved psychosocial recovery systems and expanded inter-agency coordination. He stressed that the framework remains structured and integrity-protected, with emphasis on accountability, behavioural change and sustainable reintegration outcomes.
Providing operational updates, Brigadier General Ali disclosed that 117 clients from Borno State recently completed the Disarmament, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DRR) process at Mallam Sidi Camp, reflecting improved federal–state harmonisation in reception, monitoring and community reintegration.
He also highlighted the expansion of OPSC to the North-West, where a DRR camp established in February last year marked a stabilisation milestone. Ongoing engagements with Zamfara State, he added, are aimed at recalibrating the facility toward a comprehensive Victim Healing, Rehabilitation and Reintegration framework, integrating psychosocial recovery, community reconciliation, livelihood support and structured monitoring.
In the North-Central region, Benue State has formally requested the establishment of a DRR camp. Defence Headquarters has assessed proposed sites and advised alignment with national infrastructure, security and sustainability standards prior to approval.
The stakeholders’ meeting is expected to clarify the roles of state authorities and Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), identify structured resettlement support frameworks, determine modalities for community sensitisation and camp visitation, and ratify graduation timelines for rehabilitated clients.
Participants also received updates on camp activities, made contributions during interactive sessions and reaffirmed their collective commitment to consolidating Nigeria’s security gains through coordinated rehabilitation and reintegration efforts.
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