By Austine Agbo Emmanuel, Kaduna
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has cautioned that unregulated social media use, corruption, and the quest for illicit wealth are eroding family discipline and weakening the moral fabric of Nigerian society.
The Monarch gave the warning on Monday at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, Kaduna State, during the opening ceremony of Exercise Haske Biyu 2025, which had as its theme “Family and National Security.”
According to the Sultan, the family is the most critical unit of national security, describing it as “the smallest but most vital foundation of society.” He stressed that strong families produce stable communities, while weak family systems contribute to insecurity and social disorder.
He reminded Nigerians that key societal values are first instilled in children within the family, adding that there is no substitute for the role the family plays in shaping character and discipline.
The Sultan also recalled how, during the Sokoto Caliphate, writings by Sheikh Abdullahi on child upbringing were used as social policy to guide governance.
He also charged Nigerians to draw lessons from their history rather than depend solely on external models.
Highlighting the threats facing modern families, Abubakar pointed to uncontrolled online content, drug abuse, and the unhealthy pursuit of wealth as major dangers undermining parental guidance.
Hr recommended strengthening marriage counseling systems, reforming basic education to prioritize values, intensifying anti-drug campaigns, and enforcing stricter control of harmful digital content.
He further urged government to ensure that every Nigerian child has access to quality education, stressing that agencies saddled with tackling out-of-school children must be adequately funded.
The Sultan further appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other leaders to recognize the connection between family stability and national security.
He argued that Nigeria’s challenge is not the absence of ideas but the lack of political will to implement solutions.
He prayed for the country’s leaders, urging sincerity and commitment in rebuilding the family institution, which he described as the surest way to guarantee Nigeria’s secure and prosperous future.
