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Tag: Defence minister

  • Interior, Defence Ministers meet to strengthen national security

    Interior, Defence Ministers meet to strengthen national security

    The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and his Defence counterpart, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd) on Friday met to strengthen national security strategies through intelligence sharing and deployment of cutting-edge technologies for a safer Nigeria.

    At the meeting, they reaffirmed the government’s commitment to a stronger, more coordinated national security framework through enhanced collaboration amongst concerned authorities.

    Both Ministers pledged to strengthen inter-ministerial cooperation to address evolving security threats across the country.

    According to the Head of Press and Media Relations in the Ministry of Interior, Mrs Mary Ali, Dr Tunji-Ojo appreciated the Defence Minister for the visitation and the confidence President Bola Tinubu has in the minister.

     “Our national security architecture stands on a tripod of intelligence, internal security and defence. If one leg is weak, the entire structure is threatened,” Tunji-Ojo said.

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    Tunji Ojo, however, warned against rivalry and territorialism among security institutions, stressing that Nigerians were more concerned about safety and performance than ministerial boundaries.

    He identified border security as a critical area for collaboration, particularly through the Nigerian Immigration Service, adding that no country could guarantee the safety of its citizens without securing its borders.

    Tunji-Ojo also clarified the role of the NSCDC, saying the corps was not meant to be a “police version 2.0” but a specialized agency focused on protecting critical national assets such as schools, oil and gas facilities, solid minerals, telecommunications and power infrastructure.

    He described attacks on such assets as acts of “economic terrorism”, noting that effective protection required military-grade training and close cooperation with the armed forces.

    Tunji-Ojo also commended key stakeholders and partners within the security ecosystem—including senior officials, Heads of Security Agencies, and Directors from both ministries—for their dedication and behind-the-scenes contributions to national security and stability.

     Gen. Musa (Rtd.), commended the Minister of Interior for his impactful leadership and notable reforms across agencies under the Ministry, including the Nigerian Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigerian Correctional Service, and the Federal Fire Service.

     Gen. Musa, called for deeper synergy between the Ministries of Defence and Interior, saying Nigeria’s internal security challenges can only be effectively tackled through seamless collaboration and shared responsibility.

    He described the two ministries as “two sides of the same national security coin”, noting that the distinction between internal and external security had become increasingly blurred by asymmetric threats such as terrorism, insurgency, banditry and cross-border crimes.

    According to Gen. Musa, no single agency or ministry can address these challenges in isolation, stressing the need for intelligence-driven, whole-of-government responses.

    “The line between internal and external security is no longer clear. These threats require synergy, intelligence sharing and coordinated operations if we are to succeed,” he said.

    The defence minister emphasised the importance of stronger intelligence collaboration, proposing the strengthening of a joint intelligence fusion framework between the Defence Intelligence Agency and interior agencies such as the Nigerian Immigration Service, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigerian Correctional Service.

    He also advocated the use of secure technology platforms for real-time information sharing, regular joint simulations and tabletop exercises, and clear protocols for joint operations to reduce friction and maximise resources.

    Musa assured that the Ministry of Defence would continue to support capacity-building for internal security agencies through specialised training in counterterrorism, intelligence gathering and crisis response, as well as logistical and technical support where required.

    In response, Tunji-Ojo agreed that weak internal security architecture inevitably overstretched the military, noting that effective internal security agencies would enable the armed forces to focus on their core defence mandate.

    Both ministers underscored the importance of integrated data management, stressing that Interior Ministry databases should serve as critical inputs for defence planning and national security decision-making.

    They further agreed on the activation of an inter-ministerial technical committee to meet regularly, review progress, address bottlenecks and institutionalize cooperation at both strategic and operational levels.

    Musa and Tunji-Ojo expressed confidence that sustained collaboration between their ministries would enhance national security, improve public confidence and deliver a safer Nigeria.

  • UPDATED: Tinubu swears in Musa as Defence Minister hours after Senate confirmation

    UPDATED: Tinubu swears in Musa as Defence Minister hours after Senate confirmation

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sworn in former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa (rtd), as the new Minister of Defence, in a swift transition aimed at stabilising leadership within the nation’s security architecture.

    The brief ceremony, held at the State House, Abuja, came almost 24 hours after the Senate screened and confirmed the retired military chief.

    President Tinubu had sent Musa’s nomination to the Senate on Tuesday, following the resignation of former Minister of Defense, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru, who stepped down on health grounds.

    General Musa’s assumption of office comes at a time of heightened security challenges across the country, with the administration counting on his extensive military background to reinforce ongoing counter-terrorism and internal security operations.

  • JUST IN: Senate set to screen Defence Minister nominee General Musa

    JUST IN: Senate set to screen Defence Minister nominee General Musa

    The Senate is set to screen and confirm the Minister of Defence nominee General Christopher Musa. 

    This followed the reading of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s letter nominating the General Musa for the position of the Minister of Defence, by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary.

    Akpabio said the screening would be done immediately.

    The Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele has moved a motion to suspend relevant rules of the Senate on floor privileges to allow the nominee, the Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, Senator Basheer Lado and other Ministry of Defence officials and other military officers in the entourage of the nominee.

    He also said that the main screening would be done behind closed doors immediately after introductory remarks by the nominee. 

    Details shortly…

  • ‘Defence minister round peg in round hole’

    ‘Defence minister round peg in round hole’

    A group under Northwest Progressives Forum (NPF) has thrown its weight behind the choice of former Jigawa State Governor, Mohammed Badaru, as minister of Defence, saying he is a round peg in a round hole.

    It noted President Bola Tinubu has  made an informed choice of picking the former governor.

    Addressing a news conference in Kaduna, Director of Strategic Communications, Adamu Isa, said Tinubu deserves commendation, given the new antecedents.

    “As the then governor of Jigawa State, he received Security Report every morning as the first item on his official menu. This was moreso because as the chief security officer of Jigawa State, he cannot be said to be a novice in modern governance and related issues of safety and security. Jigawa State today, is one of the most peaceful states”, the group argued.

    Reacting to the assertion the minister may find the job difficult not being a soldier, it said: “ Those peddling the narrative are merely out to distract attention because a minister’s role is coordination  of core professionals under his supervision.

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    “Another former governor from Northwest, Rabiu Kwankwaso, held same portfolio and performed well. This was so because being a minister is no rocket science”

    The group expressed excitement over what it describes as news reports that “the new Minister of Defence has immediately swung into action as he is already assembling a team of experts to assist him in the discharge of this important assignment.”

    Isa explained that the effort by Badaru to assemble a team of experts was a proof that the man knows his focus and “ the correct team composition for effective and efficient delivery of his duties.

    “Badaru is not new to the critical details of National Defence Policy, the guiding norm of the entire Defence Ministry”.

    The group commended President Bola Tinubu for “considering a competent, patriotic person with proven track record of delivering on his assignments for decades.”

    “Having done our independent checks and consultation with experts in modern military art and warfare, we are convinced that the appointment of Mohammed Badaru as Minister of Defence is a game-changer, in the spirit of Renewed Hope.”

    The group also pledged to continue praying for the new Minister to succeed in the new national assignment.

  • Defence Minister urges Zamfara communities to support military operation

    Minister of Defence, Brig. Gen. Mansur Dan Ali (rtd) has called on communities in Zamfara to support ongoing military operation against banditry in the state.

    The Minister made the call in an interview with newsmen during his one-day working visit to review the activities of “Operation Sharan Daji” in Gusau.

    Dan Ali said community support was very necessary to enable the security personnel understand the nature of the terrain.

    He said intelligence information from communities was very critical to guiding the military operation in identifying the location and how to get at criminals.

    He commended the effort of Zamfara State Government over the establishment of Civilian Joint Task Force to complement conventional security personnel.

    According to him, since soldiers were trained to defend the nation, it was therefore important for communities to give them all the necessary support.

    Expressing satisfaction with the conduct of military operation in the state, the defence minister urged them to keep up the good work. (NAN)

     

  • How Fed Govt tackling security challenges, by defence minister

    •Buhari, security chiefs meet in Aso Villa

    MINISTER of Defence Mansur Dan-Ali said yesterday that the Armed Forces in collaboration with other security agencies have been doing a lot to address the country’s turbulent security situation.

    Dan-Ali gave the assurance in a statement circulated to State House correspondents, as President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday met behind closed doors with security chiefs during National Security Council meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting dwelled on the various security challenges facing the country.

    The minister reminded the council that the Armed Forces and other security agencies have been doing a lot to tackle the nation’s security challenges.

    He said: “In order to forestall future security incidences in Zamfara, Sokoto and Birnin-Gwari axis, ‘Operation Sharan Daji’ has been extended to cover up to the fringes of Niger border.

    “The operation has recently been reinforced with more troops from the Nigerian Armed Forces, Police and Department of State Services and is supported by the Intelligence, Surveillance and Recognisance Wing of 207 Quick Response Group of the Nigerian Air Force.

    “The joint operation has successfully arrested some suspected armed bandits and recovered arms and ammunition. Similarly, in other to checkmate the criminal activities along Abuja-Kaduna highway, security agencies have been directed to increase patrols along the axis to address cases of attacks and kidnappings.

    “There was a review of ‘Operation Safe Haven’ leading to appointment of a new Commander in the Northcentral. The Honourable minister also reiterated the need for the deployment of the Nigeria Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in all areas liberated by the military in the Northeast in order to consolidate on the gains of military operations as well as to enable the military push forward in its clearance operations.”

    In the Southsouth, the minister informed the council that “Operation Delta Safe” has sustained its operations against illegal activities in the Niger Delta region with resultant reduction in illegal oil bunkering, militancy and pipeline vandalism.

     

     

  • Defence minister and anti-grazing bill

    Sir: Many Nigerians were greatly disturbed by the call by Minister of Defence, Brig-Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali (retd.) that anti-grazing bills, as operational in some states in the country, should be repealed. The minister was reported to have called for the suspension of the implementation of anti-grazing laws in some states while negotiating safe routes for herders. For the minister, suspension of the law ‘would reduce tension’ and restore peace in the country.

    The anti-open grazing law seeks to outlaw open rearing and grazing of livestock and provides for the establishment of ranches and livestock administration, wherever the law is operational. It is currently operational in Benue, Ekiti and Taraba states. In Ekiti, the law prohibits open grazing between the hours of 6pm and 7am. In Benue, it enforces an absolute ban on open-grazing throughout the state and in Taraba, there is a proviso that it would be implemented gradually after massive enlightenment and awareness campaigns across the state. The legislation further prohibits movement of livestock and requires livestock owners to ranch them by criminalising free grazing and movement of livestock by foot. In short, the law seeks to end the age-long practice of nomadism, particularly, among the Fulani herders, whose activities in recent times have led to violent clashes with farmers in many states across the country.

    Herders/farmers’ clashes have become a recurring decimal and national security problem in various parts of the country owing to rising population and less available land. Some states bear more of the burden of hostility because of their very rich vegetation and pasture, which make the land appealing to both farmers and herdsmen. Benue is one of such states. No doubt, there is ample justification for the law to stay, no matter what anybody may feel. The herdsmen base their resiostance to the implementation of the law on the grounds that it violates their rights to freedom of movement within the country and that the restriction it is at variance with international protocols that established grazing routes across the Sub-Saharan Africa. They also complain that there is not enough time for them to comply with the law, calling for more time to comprehend the law and abide by its provisions.

    The truth is that, ranching, rather than continuing with open grazing is the enduring solution, as it allows for a more coordinated transition from nomadism to ranching.

    The truth of course is that the Federal Government lacks the power to suspend or abrogate the anti-grazing law duly enacted by state governments. We should be more concerned with how to restore peace in our nation beyond any tribal, ethnic and parochial interest of some people. The defence minister’s call would in the circumstance, appear unhelpful.

     

    • Adewale Kupoluyi, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.

  • Senate oppose call for abrogation of anti-open grazing law

    …Wants minister to withdraw commend on state laws

     

    The Senate Wednesday asked the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, to immediately withdraw his statement seeking the annulment of Anti-Open Grazing Law enacted by some states.

    This is coming less than twenty four hours after the Federal Government restated its position that the enactment of Anti-Open Grazing Law in Benue and Taraba State was the main reason fueling unabating killings in the states.

    The upper chamber adopted a resolution asking Dan-Ali to withdraw what it described as inaccurate assessment of the cause of killings in parts of the country without delay.

    The lawmakers insisted that State Houses Assembly like the National Assembly have the right to make laws for the good governance of states especially under the Land Use Act of 1977 as it has to do with land matters.

    Dan-Ali, had in a statement signed by Colonel Tukur Gusau at the end of a lengthy security meeting, chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, said that there was “the need to employ other channels with the affected states to reduce tension by suspending the implementation of the Anti-Open Grazing Law while also negotiating safe routes for the herders.”

    The minister’s statement was said to be part of the resolutions reached at the Security Council meeting, which had all the security chiefs in attendance.

    The Anti-Open Grazing Law passed in Benue, Taraba and Ekiti States.

    Abia State is said to have also adopted the same law.

    The resolution to demand the withdrawal of the minister’s statement for the abrogation of the law followed the adoption of a motion by Senator Barnabas Gemade (Benue North East) on the need for Dan-Ali to be made to withdraw the statement.

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    Gemade posited that the enactment of the law by some states did not in any way contravene the constitution of the country.

    He noted that the position that the enactment of the law by Benue and Taraba was the cause of killing in part of the country does not hold water.

    Gemade noted for instance that massive killings have been going on in Zamfara State that did not enact the Anti-Open Grazing Law.

    He said that the implication of Dan-Ali’s statement was that the federal government has not been able to find out the cause of killings in the country.

    Senator John Owan Enoh supported Gemade’s position.

    The Cross River Central lawmaker noted that killings had been going on for years before some states enacted the Anti-Open Grazing Law.

    Enoh said: “If killings have been going on for over seven years, I don’t think going against anti-grazing laws will be the solution. It is unfortunate that after a security meeting, the only solution they could come up with was a ban on anti-open grazing.

    “Sometimes, we begin to wonder if these herdsmen are being protected. The Senate needs to rise up and make a statement that the anti-grazing law is against not responsible for the killings. It also means that these people in authority still don’t have any solutions to these mindless killings.”

    Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, (Taraba South) added that Zamfara State, where the Minister of Defence hails from, did not have any anti-open grazing law.

    Bwacha said that it is on record that Zamfara state has the highest number of killings carried out by herdsmen.

    He said, “The Minister of Defence is from Zamfara State. There is no anti-grazing law there. But there are more killings there than you have in Benue and Taraba. Even in my state of Taraba, five people were killed by herdsmen. I don’t know if these people are killed by Libyan trained terrorists.”

  • Defence minister launches intelligence centre in Abuja

    The Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, yesterday, in Abuja inaugurated a “Fusion Centre” – intelligence analysis centre at the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).

    Shortly after inaugurating the centre, Dan-Ali was briefed by the Theatre Commander in Maiduguri and defence sections in Bamako and Yaounde and Niamey through video teleconference.

    President Muhammadu Buhari, in November, approved the intelligence fusion centre in Maiduguri, to gather and share intelligence among security agencies.

    The centre is to tackle the desperate actions of Boko Haram terrorists in the Northeast, who use underage children, particularly girls, as suicide bombers.

    The minister said the centre would enhance intelligence analysis and enable the DIA to contribute “meaningfully to national security objectives”.

    He promised that the Federal Government will continue to sustain its efforts at building the capacity of security agencies and provide environments conducive for their personnel to carry out their duties.

    Dan-Ali lauded the DIA for setting up the centre and urged it to make the best use of the facility.

    He also inaugurated a hostel at the agency’s college at Karu, a satellite town in the FCT, its staff quarters at Mabushi, operational vehicles and a fire service station at the DIA in Asokoro.

    The Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), Air Vice Marshal Ernest Musa, said security challenges in the country and emerging ones could only be tackled with “unconventional thinking”.

    According to him, one of the cardinal missions of the agency is to enhance its operational capabilities through comprehensive adoption and utilisation of technology.

    He added that the agency will continue to sharpen its personnel skills, while employing and deploying those tools, which served as force multipliers.

  • …Buhari orders perpetrators’ arrest, sends Defence Minister to Gusau

    …Buhari orders perpetrators’ arrest, sends Defence Minister to Gusau

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday directed Defence Minister Mansur Dan Ali (rtd) to proceed to Zamfara State immediately for an on-the-spot assessment of  Thursday’s massacre of 18 innocent persons in Birane village, Zurmi Local Government Area.

    The President also directed security agencies to immediately mobilise and deploy operatives in the vulnerable areas of the state and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to face the full wrath of the law.

    He called the attack heinous and inhuman.

    He commiserated with the families of the victims, according to the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

    The President assured the Zamfara State government and residents of the state that the Federal Government would continue to do all within its power to support security agencies to secure lives and property, not only in  Zamfara, but all parts of the country.

    President Buhari restated his administration’s determination to put an end to the spate of senseless spilling of innocent blood in parts of the country, and called for restraint to allow the nation’s security apparatus to stem the undesirable trend.

    The President prayed that God would receive the souls of the departed and comfort their families.

    The state police command, in confirming the killings, said they stemmed from the February 13 interception of a herder in the bush with some suspected stolen cattle and sheep.

    The command,in a statement by its spokesman, Muhammad Shehu, said: “The herder abandoned the animals and escaped into the bush, but unknown to the hunters, the cattle rustler went to the Isah Local Government Area of Sokoto State and mobilised bandits to attack the hunters.

    “On Feb. 14, the bandits ambushed the hunters in the bush and there was a clash that led to fatalities on both sides.

    “The police, military and other sister agencies reacted by combing the bush and its environs to salvage the situation and discovered 18 dead bodies.

    “It is believed that the bandits took away their own members that were killed. Meanwhile, bush combing is in progress so as to further profile the area.

    “Mobile  policemen and special forces and other security personnel from other sister security agencies have already been deployed to the area to restore peace and stability.”