Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), has called on governors and other leaders in the South-East to partner with the Federal Government in restoring lasting peace and security to the region.   The minister made the appeal on Thursday in Umuahia while declaring open the first South-East Security Summit, organised by the Federal Ministry of Defence in collaboration with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement – South-East.    Describing the South-East as a zone known for economic vibrancy and development, Musa expressed concern over the disruptive activities of criminal elements that continue to threaten the region’s stability. He emphasised that the President Bola Tinubu administration is deeply committed to the peace and progress of the South-East and other parts of the country, which informed the convening of the summit.    The Defence Minister disclosed that the government is deploying a new strategy to tackle insecurity nationwide. He urged South-East governors and leaders to collaborate closely and adopt a united approach to make the zone safe for residents.    Musa further encouraged leaders at the summit to openly present their specific security challenges to the Federal Government, share credible intelligence, and offer practical ideas, especially on addressing youth restiveness.    In his remarks, Abia State Governor Alex Otti reaffirmed the commitment of South-East governors to making the region peaceful and secure. He noted that his administration is working with security agencies to make Abia State hostile to criminals and called on citizens to treat security as a collective responsibility while shunning all forms of crime.    Governors of Imo, Anambra, Enugu, and Ebonyi states, who were represented at the summit, also pledged to sustain collaboration with community leaders and the Federal Government to secure their respective states.   The summit is seen as a key platform for fostering stronger federal-regional partnership in the fight against insecurity in Nigeria’s South-East.