Behind every security operation is a quieter question: do people believe what they are told?

Ask most Nigerians what keeps a country safe and the answers come quickly: soldiers, police, checkpoints, intelligence. Few would say a clear message, a straight answer on a bad day, or a spokesperson who tells the truth before the rumour does.

Yet every security officer understands what sits behind the uniform. A tip that never arrives cannot be acted on. A directive that people doubt will not be obeyed. A community that expects the worst from the authorities will not walk through the station door. Security runs on cooperation, and cooperation, perhaps more than anything, runs on trust.

That is the ground public relations professionals have been steadily claiming. The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has been making the argument for years. Its 2022 Citizens Summit on national integration, peace and security put the question on the national table, and the Institute has continued to press it: communication is not an accessory to the security effort. It is part of the machinery.

Security beyond force

The country’s top policing office appears to agree. Olatunji Rilwan Disu, Inspector-General of Police, described strategic public relations as the bedrock of effective nation building and sustainable national security. Security, he noted, can no longer be achieved through force alone but through trust, transparency and shared responsibility.

“Strategic public relations replaces one-way institutional communication with transparent, two-way engagement that builds public confidence and transforms citizens from passive observers into active partners in safeguarding national security,” he said.

Moving forward, the Inspector-General outlined what that partnership requires: evidence-based communication to rebuild institutional credibility, transparency and accountability across public institutions, grassroots engagement for intelligence gathering, greater youth participation, unified national messaging that transcends ethnic and religious divisions, and closer collaboration among government, security agencies and the media during crises.

Communication as an operational tool

On his part, Dr Samuel Ayetutu, fnipr, Chairman of the Lagos State Chapter of NIPR, said the profession’s case begins with how security is discussed. “Security is often discussed in terms of arms, personnel and operations. Rarely is it discussed in terms of communication, perception and trust. Yet trust is the foundation upon which every security effort ultimately stands or falls,” he said.

He stressed that public relations is not merely supportive to security operations but an essential operational tool. Intelligence gathering, he explained, depends on citizens who trust security agencies enough to provide information, while compliance with security directives depends largely on credible, transparent and strategic communication.

“Public relations is not a luxury in the fight against insecurity. It is a necessity,” he stated. “Where communication fails, even the best-resourced security efforts struggle to gain ground. Where communication is strategic and honest, trust follows; and cooperation follows trust.”

The stakes, he noted, reach every household. “Without security, a democracy that stands on solid ground is impossible,” he said, linking insecurity to hunger, poverty, unemployment and the erosion of public confidence.

The rumour problem

If trust is the asset, misinformation is the threat. Prof Umaru Pate, professor of communication, cautioned that false and divisive narratives are deepening Nigeria’s challenges. “Trust is the invisible foundation of democracy,” he said, noting that accountability, transparency and leadership integrity are essential if public confidence is to be restored. Citizens, he observed, judge the state by what they live. “Citizens evaluate democracy not through constitutional provisions, but through lived experiences,” he said, adding that the real tests are whether people can feed their families, access healthcare, educate their children and live in dignity. The media, he suggested, carry part of the burden: “We need journalism that can help clean the system.”

What a crisis strategy looks like

For Nkechi Ali-Balogun, Principal Consultant/CEO, NECCI Limited, the starting point is understanding. “The first thing is to understand the crisis. Before you can solve a problem, you must understand what caused it,” she said. That means asking whether there were warning signs, why they were ignored, what the root cause is, and what interventions are required.

Sincerity, she stressed, matters as much as technique. “Crisis communication cannot be handled through lip service,” she stated, adding that “one of the biggest challenges we face is the absence of a coherent and consistently implemented crisis communication strategy.” Kidnapping, she explained, deserves its own communication framework.

An effective strategy must include planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and continuous learning, she noted. “Every crisis provides lessons.” It must also recognise that victims, affected communities, government agencies, security agencies, low-income and high-income groups, the employed and the unemployed all need different messages. “Each audience requires a different communication approach,” she said, and key performance indicators should show whether the interventions are working.

Listening ears

Speaking on whether Nigeria has the professional capacity to help government communicate effectively through such crises, she said:

“Absolutely. Skilled manpower is not Nigeria’s problem. We have experts in public relations, communication, technology and many other fields. We have talented professionals across the country.”

The obstacle, in her words, lies elsewhere. “The issue is whether there are listening ears. Experts can only contribute when they are engaged and given the opportunity to do so.”

She extended the point to the nation’s young people. “Even our young people possess extraordinary capabilities. Look at the level of innovation, organization and communication skills demonstrated during various social movements. Whether people agreed with the objectives or not, the creativity and technological sophistication displayed were remarkable.” Those talents, she urged, are still available. “What we need is genuine inclusion. The older generation must create space for younger people and engage them sincerely in nation-building.”

A seat at the table

Taken together, the voices describe a clear division of labour. Security agencies protect people. Public relations professionals help ensure that people believe, understand and cooperate with the protection offered.

For a country counting the cost of insecurity, the message to policymakers is hard to miss. The strategy, the manpower and the young talent exist. What remains is the decision to bring them to the table, early and sincerely, before the next crisis begins.