The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has expressed full support for Operation Safe Corridor (OSC), a federal government programme designed to deradicalise, rehabilitate, and reintegrate former insurgents into society.
This endorsement was made on May 2 during a courtesy visit to the NOA headquarters in Abuja by Yusuf Ali, the OSC coordinator, alongside his team.
During the meeting, NOA Director-General Lanre Issa-Onilu addressed the widespread public misconceptions surrounding the programme.
He admitted that he, too, previously held doubts due to limited insight into OSC’s framework.
However, after engaging with the OSC team, he said he now understands and values the initiative’s purpose, describing it as critical to sustaining peace and security in the country.
Issa-Onilu emphasised that many of those enrolled in the programme were not driven by extremist ideologies but were often victims of abduction, coercion, or manipulation during the height of insurgency in the Northeast.
He highlighted the crucial role of community involvement in reintegration, warning that without such support, former insurgents risk continued isolation and vulnerability.
The NOA chief also commended the efforts of the military and security forces and called for more robust public education campaigns to dispel false narratives and foster national unity.
In his remarks, Yusuf Ali stressed the importance of tackling insecurity through both military and non-military strategies.
He pointed out that misinformation and stigma continue to hinder the successful reintegration of beneficiaries and pose challenges to national harmony.
Ali noted that Operation Safe Corridor has been operational for nearly ten years with backing from various stakeholders, including UN agencies, state governments, traditional leaders, and religious groups.
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