Nigeria turning tide against insecurity, says Defence Minister
Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru
Minister of Defence Mohammed Badaru Abubakar says Nigeria is making significant strides in the battle against insecurity, with recent military operations and strategic investments in defence infrastructure yielding tangible results across the country.
Speaking in an exclusive interview for an upcoming State House documentary to mark President Bola Tinubu’s second anniversary in office, the Minister painted a picture of renewed hope and momentum in the fight against terrorism, banditry, and other security threats.
“For the first time in years, Nigerians can travel the Birnin Gwari to Kaduna road even at midnight. That’s progress. Zaria to Funtua to Gusau is now peaceful, and the Abuja-Kaduna road has been largely secured”, Badaru noted.
President Tinubu, he said, issued a clear and urgent mandate upon assuming office: end insecurity decisively and do it fast, before the end of 2025.
This directive has fueled aggressive military campaigns such as Operation Fasan Yama, among other targeted efforts in various conflict zones.
Badaru detailed the scale of recent accomplishments by Nigeria’s security agencies: 13,543 terrorists and bandits neutralised, 17,500 suspects arrested, 9,821 hostages rescued, and over 24,000 terrorists surrendered.
In a statement yesterday, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Badaru said: “these aren’t just numbers. These are lives saved, villages reclaimed, and communities restored.”
The Defence Minister reported a return to normalcy in parts of the Northeast and Northwest, saying “markets are back. Farms are productive again. We’ve seen Fulani, Hausa, and other communities rebuilding trust. The progress is real and visible.”
Crucial to these gains, he said, has been President Tinubu’s strong support for military welfare. The President approved ₦18 billion to clear insurance arrears for military personnel and doubled the troop ration allowance from ₦1,500 to ₦3,000.
“Life insurance now covers all soldiers, and I’ve personally visited frontline bases to listen to our troops and boost morale,” Badaru stated.
On the issue of military capacity, Badaru said the Armed Forces are better equipped today than ever before, saying “President Tinubu has not turned down a single request for equipment. We now have attack helicopters, UAVs, MRAPs, APCs, and other top-tier weaponry.”
The Minister highlighted the recent passage of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Bill as a transformative moment.
“We’ve signed over 100 local and international defence partnerships. Ammunition is being produced domestically. Two MRAPs assembled locally are parked outside this office. This is the beginning of true defence independence”, he said.
In the South-South region, the Defence Ministry has recorded a decline in pipeline vandalism and oil theft. Crude oil production has climbed from 1.4 million barrels per day to nearly 1.8 million, a development the Minister attributed to heightened surveillance and enforcement.
“We’ve arrested six ships, destroyed 2,000 illegal refineries, and dismantled over 5,000 crude oil storage pits,” he said.
Looking ahead, Badaru assured Nigerians that the administration’s goal of defeating insecurity nationwide by the end of 2025 remains on course.
“This President is not making empty promises. He’s building the institutions, the morale, the partnerships, and the firepower to secure Nigeria. We are not relenting.”
He called on citizens to remain united and optimistic, stressing that although progress may be gradual, the foundation for lasting peace is being laid.
“Change doesn’t happen overnight, but neutral observers will tell you that we’ve made real progress. The President’s commitment is unwavering,” he added.
The Chief of Army Staff, while declaring the COAS Bi Annual conference closed in Maiduguri, where top-ranking army generals brainstormed for three days to discuss the way forward to safeguard national peace and security, said, “there is no contesting our decision to completely neutralise these detractors to peace.
“Thus, I charge each and every officer and soldier to spare no quarter in running these terrorists and criminals to the ground.
“They (terrorists) seek to disrupt our way of life and destroy the society that our forefathers built. We will not allow such to happen,” COAS said.
He insisted that every strategic decision made at the conference must be adopted to achieve the set objectives of the first Biennial conference.
“As a fallout of our deliberations, we will in the coming weeks, induct more combat enablers into our operations.
“However, we need to understand that the strength of the Nigerian Army does not solely lie in the weapons we place on the battlefield, but more in the will of our soldiers who wield them.
“Accordingly, it behoves everyone seated here to show exemplary leadership, to mentor (soldiers) and guide the next generation on the right path.
“Today, we are faced with an adversary that threatens the very fabric of our socio-cultural heritage.
It is worth noting that the depth of discourse and clarity of thought expressed during our sessions reflected the intellectual rigour and strategic foresight required to thrust the Nigerian Army into the future filled with unprecedented possibilities.
“I therefore make bold to say that the objective of this first Bi-Annual conference has largely been achieved, judging by the well-articulated inputs and contributions that have surpassed my expectations. Concerted efforts will be made to implement these suggested measures in our current and future engagements,” Oluyede said.
