Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, has thrown his weight behind the 10th Senate’s proposed two-day national security summit, describing it as a timely initiative to tackle Nigeria’s growing security concerns.
Recall that the minister had last week, dismissed the idea of another security summit, saying it was not necessary.
But Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, reacted immediately, warning the minister to desist from playing down the security summit, insisting that the summit would not only be held but that the minister must also be in attendance.
The minister, who now threw his weight behind the summit when he spoke at the 2025 ministerial briefing on President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s scorecard, said it was desirable.
Badaru said: “When you hold a summit, you hear people speak, gather perspectives and take those insights back to review and strengthen our strategy, which is translated into action. That’s how change happens.
“The National Assembly is trying to bring people together to discuss the security situation. You will hear a lot.
“I’ve personally consulted with many past defence ministers and service chiefs to understand both past and present challenges, and how we can improve. I’m sure the current service chiefs are doing the same.”
Commending the National Assembly’s effort to bring stakeholders together, he called it a “commendable move towards inclusive policy-making,” stressing that the talk must lead to tangible outcomes.
Reiterating his position, the minister noted that while the summit was a step in the right direction, sustained progress depended on designing, refining and executing robust defence strategies, not just discussion.
He emphasized that the summit would offer a valuable platform for dialogue, adding that “true progress lies in transforming ideas into concrete national defence strategies.’’