BY MUSA IDRIS UMAR, OCTOBER 19, 2025 | 09:04 AM
Professor Usman Tar, Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, has been elected Chairman of the Progressive Commissioners of Information across APC-governed states.
The announcement was made during the presentation of the communiqué at the close of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) Strategy Summit held on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at the Government House, Maiduguri.
The Progressive Governors’ Forum, which brings together governors of APC-controlled states, serves as a policy platform designed to strengthen inter-state collaboration, improve governance standards, and unify communication strategies across the country.
Its Commissioners’ Forum functions as a think tank, offering advisory and technical support to advance the party’s governance, communication, and public engagement agenda.
Professor Tar’s emergence is seen as both recognition of his intellectual distinction and an acknowledgment of Borno State’s growing influence under Governor Babagana Umara Zulum.
His leadership is expected to introduce a new phase of strategic communication, policy-driven discourse, and synergy among information managers in APC states.
Speaking after his election, Professor Tar described the appointment as a 'collective mandate to strengthen the communication architecture of APC-governed states.'
'I am profoundly honored by the trust and solidarity of my colleagues,' he said.
'Together, we shall refine our communication strategies, enhance public trust, and project the values of good governance that define the progressive tradition.'
A respected academic and policy expert, Professor Tar has built a career that bridges academia, defense policy, and governance.
Before his appointment as commissioner, he served as Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and Endowed Chair of Defense and Security Studies at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna.
His research work over the past two decades has focused on insurgency, counterterrorism, democracy, and small arms proliferation in Africa, with a particular focus on the Lake Chad Basin and West African security.
He is the author and co-author of more than 30 books and over 130 scholarly works, including peer-reviewed articles, policy papers, and academic monographs.
Since assuming office as Borno State Commissioner, Professor Tar has introduced innovative communication strategies that combine digital modernization, transparent public engagement, and strong media collaboration.
He has also championed initiatives that promote community resilience, responsible journalism, and cultural preservation as part of Borno’s peace and reconstruction efforts.
Analysts describe him as a bridge between academia and governance, representing the blend of knowledge and leadership needed for Nigeria’s democratic progress.
They believe his election marks a major step toward institutionalizing evidence-based policymaking and intellectual governance within the APC framework.
With his experience, vision, and strategic insight, Professor Usman Tar is poised to steer the Progressive Commissioners’ Forum toward greater coherence, credibility, and national impact.