The Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, on Sunday, reversed his earlier stance and pledged full support for the national security summit being organised by the National Assembly.
Describing the proposed summit as ‘a timely initiative to tackle Nigeria’s growing security concerns’, Badaru expressed his commitment to participating in the two-day event and ensuring its outcomes translate into concrete actions.
The minister’s latest position marks a notable departure from his remarks on Wednesday during an inter-ministerial briefing, where he had suggested that developing a security strategy would be more effective than convening a summit.
Badaru also differed with the House of Representatives over its claims that insurgents possessed more sophisticated weaponry than the military.
Reacting to his earlier comments, the Senate on Thursday berated the minister for dismissing the proposed summit, warning him to refrain from making statements capable of sparking tension between the executive and legislative arms of government
While addressing journalists in Abuja on Sunday, Badaru rescinded his earlier position on the proposed national security summit.
He acknowledged the importance of dialogue and inclusive policymaking, stressing that the real impact lies in turning discussions into strategic reforms.
‘When you hold a summit, you hear people speak, gather perspectives, and take those insights back to review and strengthen our strategy, which is translated into action. That’s how change happens’, Badaru stated.
He further commended the National Assembly’s efforts, pledging to play an active role in the summit and champion the implementation of its recommendations.
‘I will participate in the National Assembly security summit and ensure that whatever outcomes from the summit are translated into action and lead to tangible results. It is a commendable move towards inclusive policy-making’, he added.
