By John Umeh
A Surprising Turnaround in National Security Discourse
In a notable shift from his earlier stance, Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has officially declared his support for the Senate’s proposed National Security Summit, aimed at addressing the worsening state of insecurity across the country. The announcement marks a significant moment in the country’s approach to intergovernmental cooperation on security matters, especially as the executive arm and the legislature seek common ground in dealing with complex threats.
The minister made the statement during a closed-door session with the Senate Committee on Defence held at the National Assembly in Abuja. According to sources present at the meeting, Badaru expressed a renewed commitment to inclusive dialogue and cross-sector collaboration in combating terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other pressing security challenges facing Nigeria.
“We must face the reality that no single institution can solve Nigeria’s security crisis alone,” he reportedly said. “The summit proposed by the Senate provides a critical platform for national consensus, and I fully support it.”
This statement comes just weeks after Badaru appeared to downplay the need for such a summit, suggesting at the time that ongoing military operations were sufficient and that new dialogue initiatives might distract from tactical progress on the ground. His earlier position had attracted criticism from lawmakers, security experts, and civil society organizations, many of whom argued that a holistic, all-stakeholder approach was essential.
Building Bridges Between the Executive and Legislature
The Defence Minister’s endorsement of the Senate initiative is being seen as a major step toward closing the communication gap between Nigeria’s executive and legislative arms on matters of national security. It follows rising calls from across the country for the federal government to adopt a more consultative and transparent approach in dealing with insecurity, particularly in rural and conflict-prone regions.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who had earlier championed the idea of the summit, welcomed the Defence Minister’s support, describing it as “a timely and patriotic gesture.” He stressed that the summit was not meant to undermine ongoing military efforts, but to complement them by drawing in governors, traditional rulers, security agencies, civil society groups, and the private sector.
“Our security situation is multi-dimensional. It requires military precision, but also dialogue, data, economic intervention, and strong local intelligence. That is what this summit aims to address,” Akpabio said in a press briefing following the session.
Analysts have praised the Defence Minister’s change of heart as a sign of responsiveness to the will of the people and the gravity of the security situation. Some believe his new position might also help improve morale within the armed forces, which have often borne the burden of security operations with limited coordination from other national institutions.
Already, discussions are underway to schedule the summit for later this year, with the Senate expected to present a working framework that includes panels on military strategy, intelligence gathering, insurgency financing, border control, and regional cooperation.
Stakeholder Reactions and the Way Forward
The Defence Minister’s new position has drawn widespread reactions from key stakeholders. The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) issued a statement expressing optimism that the summit could serve as a turning point in Nigeria’s longstanding battle against insecurity.
Security analysts also weighed in, noting that such a forum could allow critical voices from the frontlines—such as local vigilantes, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and community leaders—to contribute to national policy in a structured way.
“Nigeria has suffered from a top-down approach to security for far too long,” said security analyst Dr. Kabir Adamu. “A national summit would allow policymakers to hear directly from those most affected and potentially lead to more grounded, community-specific solutions.”
Despite the optimism, some experts warned that a summit alone would not be enough. They emphasized the need for the summit’s recommendations to be actionable and backed by real political will and funding.
In the days following his endorsement, the Defence Minister has also instructed his team to collaborate closely with the Senate to ensure that military leadership is fully represented at the summit and that the sessions reflect current realities in the field.
As insecurity continues to dominate headlines—from bandit attacks in the North-West to communal clashes in the Middle Belt and kidnappings in the South—many Nigerians see this joint approach as a long-overdue move in the right direction.
With plans for the summit now gaining momentum, attention is turning to the composition of its working groups, the level of transparency in its proceedings, and the speed with which its outcomes will be implemented.
For now, the Defence Minister’s about-face is being interpreted as a symbol of growing consensus at the top levels of government that no single institution can win the fight against insecurity alone—and that the time for unified action is now.
