By Harriet Tornguvan
The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has restated the Federal Government’s strong commitment to restoring peace and stability across the North-West as he joined governors, lawmakers, security chiefs and community leaders at the North-West Zonal Security Summit in Kaduna.
The summit, held at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Hall and convened by the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on National Security, brought together key stakeholders to deliberate on the region’s escalating security challenges and chart a path toward collective solutions.
Speaking at the event, the Minister emphasised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s unwavering dedication to the Renewed Hope Agenda, describing national security, unity and community resilience as central pillars of the administration’s vision. He said the President envisages a harmonious and secure nation anchored on shared prosperity, tolerance and equal respect for all citizens.
Badaru highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture, noting that improved synergy among security agencies and stronger community collaboration were already producing tangible gains. He stressed, however, that security cannot be left to the military and law-enforcement agencies alone.
“National security is a shared responsibility,” he said, calling for deeper engagement from citizens, local communities and state governments.
The Minister hailed the proactive roles of state governors whom he described as frontline Chief Security Officers for providing critical logistics support, deploying early-warning systems and investing in community-driven security initiatives. He also commended traditional rulers for fostering trust and mediation, women and youth groups for driving vigilance and recovery efforts, and religious and civil society leaders for countering misinformation and promoting peacebuilding.
Badaru further reiterated President Tinubu’s directives to security agencies to sustain momentum in intelligence sharing, joint operations and protection of schools and rural communities. He applauded the Senate for organising the summit, saying it strengthens national dialogue, transparency and accountability in the security sector.
He assured stakeholders that the Ministry of Defence remains fully committed to working with all partners to consolidate stability, rebuild community confidence and advance the Renewed Hope Agenda across the North-West.
The summit drew wide participation, including Kaduna State Governor Senator Uba Sani, the Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, representatives of governors from the region, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations and other critical stakeholders.
