— Stresses Action Beyond Dialogue for Lasting Change
The Minister of Defense, His Excellency Mohammed Badaru, has endorsed the 10th Senate’s proposed National Security Summit, describing it as a timely and necessary step toward addressing Nigeria’s mounting security challenges.
Speaking at the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing on the performance of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, the Minister acknowledged the summit as a valuable platform for dialogue, but emphasized that real impact will depend on translating discussions into concrete national defense strategies.
Responding to a question from Punch correspondent Mr. Abdullahi Adeba, Badaru stated:
“When you hold a summit, you hear people speak, gather perspectives, and take those insights back to review and strengthen our strategy, which is then translated into action. That’s how change happens.”
He commended the National Assembly’s initiative to convene a broad-based stakeholder meeting, calling it a “commendable move toward inclusive policy-making.” However, he cautioned that meaningful progress would require commitment to implementation.
“The National Assembly is trying to bring people together to discuss the security situation. You hear a lot. I’ve personally consulted with many past Defense 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.
The Minister reiterated that while the summit is a positive step, lasting progress will depend on designing, refining, and executing robust and adaptive defense strategies—beyond just conversation.