By Reportcircle Abuja
The North-West for years the epicentre of Nigeria’s most stubborn security crises became the focus of a powerful federal intervention on Saturday as the Minister of Defence, H.E. Mohammed Badaru Abubakar (CON, mni), stormed the North-West Zonal Security Summit in Kaduna with a blunt message: Nigeria cannot defeat insecurity without collective, coordinated action.
Held at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Hall, the summit convened by the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on National Security drew governors, traditional rulers, clerics, civil society leaders and security chiefs into a rare moment of joint reflection on the region’s escalating threats.
Delivering a forceful goodwill message, Badaru reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, insisting that national security, unity, and community resilience remain its core anchors.
He described the President’s vision as one built on shared prosperity, mutual tolerance and equal respect, warning that the country cannot afford fractured efforts in the face of evolving dangers.
The Minister was direct:
“National security is a collective responsibility. Every citizen, every community, every state must take ownership.”
Badaru praised state governors the Chief Security Officers of their respective domains for strengthening logistics, deepening early-warning systems and expanding community-level engagement.
He singled out traditional rulers for their role in mediation and trust-building, calling them indispensable partners in resolving disputes before they escalate into violence.
Women and youth, he noted, have become the backbone of community vigilance networks and recovery efforts, while religious leaders and civil society groups continue to fight misinformation and promote peacebuilding across volatile communities.
The Defence Minister highlighted significant gains made under the Tinubu administration, particularly the increased synergy among Nigerian security agencies.
But he cautioned that the progress is still fragile and must be reinforced through:
Deeper interagency collaboration
Enhanced intelligence sharing
Stronger protection for schools and rural communities
Unified operations across state and federal formations
He described the North-West summit as a vital step in building that unified front.
Badaru applauded the Senate for convening the forum, describing it as a bold demonstration of legislative commitment to transparency, accountability and national dialogue.
“The Senate has shown courageous leadership,” the Minister said. “This summit is not just a conversation — it is a turning point.”
The Minister reassured stakeholders that the Ministry of Defence stands ready to work hand-in-hand with governors, traditional institutions, community groups, and security agencies to stabilise the North-West and rebuild public confidence.
“We will match dialogue with action,” he promised.
“We will deepen collaboration, strengthen stability, and advance the Renewed Hope Agenda across the North-West zone.”
The event attracted a formidable assembly: Kaduna State Governor Senator Uba Sani, the Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, top representatives of other North-West governors, traditional leaders, Ulama, civil society organisations and dozens of high-level security stakeholders.
As the summit closed, one thing was clear: The North-West is no longer waiting for solutions it is building them. And at the centre of that movement stands the Federal Government, demanding a new era of responsibility, unity and decisive action.
