The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has declared its full support for Operation Safe Corridor (OSC), a federal government programme created to deradicalise, rehabilitate, and reintegrate former Boko Haram members into society. This was revealed during a courtesy visit by the OSC team, led by Coordinator Yusuf Ali, to the NOA headquarters in Abuja.
During the visit, NOA’s Director-General, Lanre Issa-Onilu, admitted that there had been much misinformation and misunderstanding about the objectives of OSC. He noted that although he once had doubts about the programme, his perspective changed after gaining deeper insight into how it works. He now sees it as a key step in achieving long-term peace and security across the country.
“The programme is not just about former fighters returning to society,” Issa-Onilu said. “It’s about healing communities, correcting wrong ideas, and giving people a real chance to start over.”
He noted that many of the individuals going through OSC are not hard-line extremists. Instead, they are people who were forcefully taken, threatened, or misled during the period of Boko Haram’s control in parts of the North-East. The Director-General stressed that these individuals need support at both local and national levels to avoid being left vulnerable once again.
Issa-Onilu also pointed out that community-based reintegration is a crucial part of the process. Without the support of their communities and adequate education to clear public doubts, many rehabilitated individuals may face rejection and isolation. This, he said, could reverse the progress already made.
He praised the armed forces and security agencies for their continuous efforts and sacrifices, adding that better public awareness is needed to stop false stories from spreading and dividing the nation.
In his comments, OSC Coordinator Yusuf Ali noted the need for both forceful and peaceful approaches to dealing with security threats. He raised concerns about the ongoing stigma and misinformation that continue to damage reintegration efforts.
Ali said the programme has been active for nearly ten years, with backing from state governments, the United Nations, religious leaders, and traditional institutions. He said this kind of teamwork shows that many groups believe in the programme’s goals and want to see it succeed.
