Abuja, Nigeria – Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, has underscored the critical role of strategic defence management in safeguarding national sovereignty, maintaining peace, and fostering socioeconomic development. The Minister made these remarks during a lecture to Course 33 at the National Defence Academy in Abuja on July 11, 2025.
In his address, titled “Strategic Defence Management in Nigeria: Ministry of Defence in Perspective,” Badaru commended President Bola Tinubu for prioritising security development. He outlined the Ministry’s central role in tackling Nigeria’s evolving security challenges through institutional reforms, strategic planning, and collaborative defence mechanisms.
Badaru detailed the complexity of Nigeria’s current security environment, noting the interplay of various actors, including state forces, insurgents, civil society, media, and foreign interests, all within a volatile regional and global context. He reiterated that effective strategic defence management is essential not only for preserving sovereignty and peace but also for driving socioeconomic progress. With a population exceeding 200 million and a dynamic economy, Nigeria faces a wide array of threats, including insurgency in the North-East, banditry and communal violence in the North-West and North-Central, secessionist movements and oil theft in the South, and maritime insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea. He also highlighted the impact of regional instability in the Sahel and Nigeria’s leadership role within ECOWAS and the African Union in shaping national defence policies.
The Minister praised President Tinubu’s administration for recognising the strong link between national security and development. He mentioned ongoing reforms aimed at recalibrating Nigeria’s security architecture through capacity building, military modernisation, and investment in local defence production, emphasising that the success of these reforms hinges on the Ministry of Defence’s effectiveness as the apex body for military oversight and strategic coordination.
Minister Badaru clarified that the Ministry of Defence is tasked with formulating and executing the National Defence Policy, ensuring the readiness of the Armed Forces, and driving strategic initiatives that integrate defence planning, policy, and resource management. He stressed that efficient defence management must be based on forward-looking frameworks aligned with both national interests and global realities.
In conclusion, the Minister reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to enhancing operational efficiency, strengthening transparency, and promoting multi-sectoral partnerships. He advocated for a “whole-of-government and whole-of-society” approach to security, integrating military, economic, and diplomatic strategies to safeguard Nigeria’s territorial integrity and protect citizens from internal and external threats.
Rear Admiral James Okosun, the Commandant of the National Defence College, thanked Minister Badaru for his lecture, deeming it essential for shaping future military leadership and commending the ongoing reforms under the Minister’s leadership.
Sources
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