The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, has reversed his earlier stance and now fully supports the 10th Senate’s proposed two-day national security summit, describing it as a timely initiative to address Nigeria’s escalating security challenges.
This comes barely a week after the minister dismissed the idea of another security summit, declaring it unnecessary. His earlier remarks drew an immediate rebuke from Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who warned Badaru against undermining the summit and insisted that not only would the event proceed as planned, but the minister would also be required to attend.
Speaking at the 2025 ministerial briefing on President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s performance, Badaru now endorsed the summit, calling it a “desirable” move.
“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 minister said.
“The National Assembly is trying to bring people together to discuss the security situation. You will hear a lot.”
Badaru disclosed that he had personally consulted with former defence ministers and service chiefs to gain deeper insights into Nigeria’s security challenges.
“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,” he added.
While commending the National Assembly’s initiative, Badaru described it as a “commendable move towards inclusive policy-making” but stressed that discussions must translate into concrete action.
Reiterating his position, the minister noted that while the summit was a step in the right direction, lasting progress would depend on “designing, refining, and executing robust defence strategies, not just discussion.”
He emphasized that the summit would provide a crucial platform for dialogue, adding: “True progress lies in transforming ideas into concrete national defence strategies.”
The Senate’s security summit is expected to bring together key stakeholders, including security experts, policymakers, and civil society groups, to deliberate on sustainable solutions to Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.
With the Defence Minister now on board, the event is poised to proceed as scheduled, amid high expectations for actionable outcomes.
