Strategic Defence Crucial to Sovereignty, Peace and Development — Badaru

The Honourable Minister of Defence, H.E. Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, CON, mni, has emphasised that strategic defence management remains a critical pillar for safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty, ensuring internal peace, and promoting long-term socio-economic growth.

In a statement signed by his PA on Media and Publicity, Mati Ali, and released on Friday, 11th July 2025, the Minister highlighted this position while addressing participants at the National Defence College Course 33 in Abuja. He praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for making national security a top priority and for supporting institutional reforms within the defence sector.

Delivering a lecture titled “Strategic Defence Management in Nigeria: Ministry of Defence in Perspective,” Badaru stressed the importance of comprehensive planning, policy execution, and resource management in navigating Nigeria’s complex security landscape. He described the national security environment as dynamic and influenced by various state and non-state actors, civil society, foreign interests, and media narratives.

He pointed out that the country faces multiple threats, including insurgency in the North-East, communal conflicts and banditry in the North-West and North-Central, oil theft and secessionist movements in the South, and maritime insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea. He also cited instability across the Sahel region as a growing challenge with implications for Nigeria and the wider ECOWAS subregion.

According to the Minister, effective defence strategy must not only preserve territorial integrity but also contribute to national development. “Strategic defence management is not just a tool for peace — it is a necessary foundation for our country’s progress,” he said.

He outlined the Ministry’s responsibilities, which include formulating the National Defence Policy, ensuring the combat readiness of the Armed Forces, and coordinating inter-agency operations. Badaru noted that reforms under the current administration aim to modernise Nigeria’s defence infrastructure, invest in local manufacturing, and improve operational efficiency through innovation and transparency.

He urged stakeholders to adopt a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, combining military, economic, and diplomatic tools to effectively respond to security challenges.

In his remarks, the Commandant of the National Defence College, Rear Admiral James Ohimai Okosun, commended the Minister’s leadership and described the lecture as timely and essential for shaping the future of Nigeria’s defence strategy. He also acknowledged the ongoing reforms, saying they are setting a new benchmark in governance and institutional integrity across the sector.