By Abdul Lauya
The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has emphasized that strategic defence management remains central to Nigeria’s sovereignty, peace, and socioeconomic progress.
Speaking at the National Defence College, Abuja, during a lecture delivered to participants of Course 33, the minister outlined how a well-coordinated defence strategy forms the backbone of national development and stability.
In his presentation titled “Strategic Defence Management in Nigeria: Ministry of Defence in Perspective,” Badaru commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for prioritizing security in governance, pointing to ongoing reforms aimed at modernizing the Armed Forces and recalibrating Nigeria’s security architecture.
He warned that the country faces a multifaceted security environment involving insurgency in the North-East, banditry and communal clashes in the North-West and North-Central, secessionist agitation and oil theft in the South, and maritime threats in the Gulf of Guinea.
“With over 200 million people and a dynamic economy, Nigeria must contend with both internal threats and external pressures from regional instability, particularly in the Sahel,” he said, while reaffirming Nigeria’s leadership role in ECOWAS and the African Union.
According to the minister, the Ministry of Defence is key to national security oversight, charged with executing defence policy, ensuring military readiness, and aligning defence resources with national priorities.
Badaru stressed the need for a holistic approach to national security, one that integrates military, economic, and diplomatic tools, with participation from all sectors of society.
He reiterated the ministry’s commitment to transparency, operational efficiency, and fostering cross-sectoral partnerships.
In his remarks, Commandant of the National Defence College, Rear Admiral James Ohimai Okosun, lauded the minister’s insights, describing the lecture as “timely and essential” for grooming future defence leaders.
He noted the ministry’s reforms under Badaru’s leadership, saying they are setting a new benchmark for defence governance in Nigeria.
