Douye Diri has reiterated that a mix of kinetic and non-kinetic approaches remains essential to addressing Nigeria’s growing security challenges.

The governor made the remark during a courtesy visit by participants of the Executive Intelligence Management Course 19 from the National Institute for Security Studies at Government House, Yenagoa. He was represented by his deputy, Peter Akpe.

Diri stressed that military force alone cannot resolve insecurity, noting that inclusive governance, equitable resource distribution, and a credible social contract are critical to long-term stability.

He highlighted the Niger Delta’s history of economic contribution and social neglect, describing it as a “paradox of plenty” where communities rich in natural resources have faced underdevelopment and marginalisation.

According to him, Bayelsa State has prioritised non-kinetic measures such as youth empowerment, skills acquisition, scholarships, and infrastructure development to reduce vulnerability to crime and militancy.

The governor warned that unemployed and excluded youths are more susceptible to recruitment by criminal groups, urging policymakers to focus on addressing underlying socio-economic factors.

Diri called on participants to examine both successes and shortcomings of interventions in the Niger Delta as part of their study on ethnic militias and resource competition in Africa.

Earlier, the team lead, Vivian Okpeh, said the course is a 10-month programme designed to build capacity in intelligence management, strategic leadership, and national security policy.

Nigeria continues to face a complex security landscape, including insurgency in the North-East, banditry and kidnappings in the North-West and North-Central, and militancy in the Niger Delta.