The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar has emphasized the critical need for a robust and adaptive national security framework, noting the significant progress made through enhanced synergy among security agencies and stakeholders.
He stressed that national security is a collective responsibility that demands active involvement from citizens, communities, and state governments alike.
The minister spoke at the North-West Zonal Security Summit held at Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Hall, Kaduna.
The event was organized by the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on National Security to foster dialogue on security challenges and collaborative solutions within the region.
In his keynote goodwill message, Badaru reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu unwavering commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda with national security, unity, and community resilience as core pillars.
He highlighted the President’s vision of a harmonious society built on shared prosperity, mutual tolerance, and equal respect for every Nigerian.
Acknowledging the indispensable role of state governors as Chief Security Officers, the Minister praised their provision of logistics support, implementation of early-warning systems, and community engagement initiatives.
He further commended traditional rulers for fostering trust and facilitating mediation processes, women and youth groups for their pivotal roles in community vigilance and recovery efforts, as well as religious leaders and civil society organizations for combating misinformation and advancing peace and reintegration efforts.
Reinforcing the President’s directives, the Minister called for sustained momentum among the Armed Forces and all security agencies to deepen interagency collaboration, enhance intelligence sharing, and bolster protection for schools and rural communities.
He also lauded the Senate for convening the summit, underscoring its importance in promoting transparency, national dialogue, and accountability in the security sector.
The Minister concluded by assuring all stakeholders that the Ministry of Defence remains fully committed to collaborating with summit partners to strengthen stability, build community confidence, and advance the Renewed Hope Agenda across the North-West zone.
The summit was well-attended by key figures including Kaduna State Governor Senator Uba Sani, Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, representatives of other state governors, traditional rulers, Ulama, civil society organizations, and other prominent stakeholders.
