By Aishat Omowumi Yekeen
The Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD) Nigeria has launched a new radio programme, Civic Spaces, Security and the People, in Abia State to promote civic participation, human rights, security and accountability.
The programme was launched on August 21, 2026, in partnership with Spaces for Change (S4C), with support from the Action Group on Free Civic Spaces (AGFCS) and funding from the Global Fund for Human Rights (GFHR).
The weekly programme will be broadcast every Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on SUN FM, Aba, providing a platform for citizens, civil society organisations, government institutions, security agencies, media practitioners and other stakeholders to discuss issues affecting their communities.
According to FENRAD, the programme will use radio to promote public education, community engagement, dialogue and accountability, while giving citizens the opportunity to ask questions, share their experiences and engage relevant institutions on matters of public interest.
The initiative will focus on issues including freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, human rights, civic participation, democratic governance, community security, police accountability, community policing and the protection of journalists and human rights defenders.
Other areas of discussion will include youth participation and leadership, gender and inclusion in governance and security, conflict prevention, peacebuilding, misinformation, access to credible information and the accountability of public institutions.
FENRAD Executive Director, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, who signed the statement, said the programme was established to strengthen citizens’ participation in conversations concerning their safety, rights and communities.
Nwafor said, “A safe society is one where citizens are not only protected from violence and insecurity but are also free to speak, organise, participate in governance and demand accountability without fear.”
He added that the programme would provide a constructive platform for citizens and institutions to engage on sensitive issues while promoting dialogue, mutual understanding, accountability and peaceful resolution of challenges.
FENRAD said the programme would also seek to improve relationships between communities and security institutions by encouraging conversations that address mistrust and identify practical solutions to security challenges.
The organisation maintained that security and civic freedoms should be viewed as complementary rather than competing priorities, stressing that respect for human rights, public participation, access to information and accountable institutions are important foundations for sustainable peace and security.
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Through the partnership with Spaces for Change, supported by AGFCS and funded by GFHR, FENRAD said it aims to strengthen civic space and protect the ability of citizens and civic actors to participate meaningfully in public affairs.
The organisation described the radio programme as a bridge between communities and institutions, creating opportunities for citizens’ concerns to receive public attention while encouraging government and security agencies to engage with communities.
FENRAD also emphasised the importance of people-centred security, noting that sustainable security requires more than enforcement. It said trust, community participation, credible information, accountability and respect for human rights are necessary for safer communities.
The programme will feature experts, community leaders, security professionals, human rights defenders, women, young people, persons with disabilities and other stakeholders, allowing them to contribute their perspectives to discussions on security and civic space.
FENRAD has consequently called on the Abia State Government, security agencies, traditional and religious institutions, civil society organisations, media organisations, community leaders, development partners and citizens to participate actively in the programme.
The Foundation also urged public institutions and security agencies to regard constructive engagement with citizens and civil society as an important part of accountable governance and effective security.
With SUN FM’s reported reach of more than five million listeners across the South-East region, FENRAD said the programme would provide an opportunity to extend conversations on civic space, security, human rights and accountable governance beyond individual communities.
The organisation said it remains committed to promoting human rights, environmental justice, civic participation, accountability, peaceful communities and sustainable development.
The Civic Spaces, Security and the People programme is expected to air every Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on SUN FM, Aba, with coverage across the South-East region.
The initiative, FENRAD said, is intended to serve not only as a weekly radio broadcast but also as a platform for civic education, dialogue and citizens’ voices in promoting a safer, more inclusive and rights-respecting society.
