The National Assembly on Tuesday proposed setting up a committee to organize a two-day national security summit involving relevant stakeholders in all tiers and sectors to generate ideas for upscaling the war against terrorism in the country. The decision followed a motion sponsored by Jimoh Ibrahim, senator representing Ondo south, at the resumption of plenary. But the executive arm, through the National Security Adviser and the Minister of Defence, downplayed the usefulness of such a summit at this time though conceding that it could produce helpful ideas. They were rather of the opinion that more resources be pulled into the current push being executed by the military and security arms. 

A major point of disagreement was the claim by the lawmakers that the terrorists were better armed than the military. 

The lawmakers had warned the government of a possible citizens’ revolt if insecurity in the country was not resolved urgently. 

The lawmaker representing Borno South, Senator Ali Ndume, asked the Federal Government and the military authorities to provide arms and ammunition to resilient local hunters, vigilantes and civilian task force members to assist the military, following the killing of a captain and soldier at Izge community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State by insurgents. 

But speaking at a ministerial briefing in Abuja, the Defence Minister explained that Nigeria’s armed forces were better equipped than the insurgents. 

He said, so far, the terrorists had deployed civilian-grade drones with improvised explosives which had been less successful. 

“They’re not using armed drones with strategic guidance. We are doubling our intelligence efforts, both locally and internationally, to track and cut off supply sources,” he said. 

He also downplayed the importance of the proposed security summit by the Senate, stressing that renewal of strategy was far more critical in combating insecurity. 

Badaru said the current challenge was not a lack of firepower but rather the unpredictable tactics used by terrorists, often aided by informants within local communities. 

His words: “Yesterday (Tuesday), the House of Representatives said terrorists have better weapons than us. That is absolutely not true. We have much more sophisticated weapons and we have much more sophisticated drones. 

“The issue is, this war is not a conventional war, it’s like a guerrilla war. They watch us, they have informant around us. They (insurgents) help the people we try to protect and they get information from the people, and they jump at us the way we don’t expect. We have much more sophisticated equipment.’’ 

On the planned security summit, the minister maintained that while such gatherings could provide useful input, they could not substitute for well-thought-out military strategies. 

“On the summit, yes, strategy is far more important than summit. But summit will give you some inputs for the strategy. When you hold a summit, you have people, they talk. We take what they expect, and we go back to design or renew our strategy. 

“Then, the Chief of Defence Staff gives operational orders, based on the strategy they developed. So, what the National Assembly is trying to do, maybe, is to bring people together to discuss issues. You hear a lot. 

“I visited most of the past defense ministers. I visited most of the past service chiefs to discuss issues of security during their time and what we see today. And I’m sure the service chiefs also do the same. So, the summit can help, but the strategy is much more important.” 

Giving updates on domestic defence production efforts, he disclosed that 10 of 53 companies involved in the Defence Industrial Complex, DICON, had begun production of drones, aircraft parts, helmets, and other military equipment. 

He said government hoped to have at least 20 of those companies in full production by year’s end, with plans to begin exporting by next year. 

“We are working to see if we can sustain a section in Ajaokuta that will support our efforts to make DICON more vibrant. 

“Currently, with the support of the President, the governor, and the chief of defence staff, DICON— as many of you know — is hosting 53 companies. Most of them are at various stages of constructing their factories. 

“About 10 of these companies have already commenced production, including the manufacturing of drones, aircraft components, personal computers, helmets, safety vests, and other equipment. 

“So far, 10 have begun production, and we are targeting at least 20 companies to be operational by the end of the year. By next year, we aim to begin export.” 

Reeling out the success of the military, Badaru said troops eliminated a total of 13,541 terrorists and arrested 17,469 criminals across the country between May 2023 and February 2025. 

He added that the troops also rescued 9,821 kidnapped hostages while a total of 124, 408 Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists surrendered within the period. 

Regardless, Senator Akpabio on Thursday warned that the comment of the minister of Defense, Badaru, on the proposed security summit by the Senate may cause Legislative-Executive spat. 

Akpabio’s comment came on the heels of the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele’s report on the minister’s comment that the two-day security summit being planned by the Senate was unnecessary. 

He said if defense had any issue with any resolution of the Senate, it shouldn’t do so in the market. 

“I think the Senate will look into that issue. If defense has any issue with any resolution of the Senate, it shouldn’t do so in the market. It should get in touch with the Senate President or the Senate Leaders. He should get in touch with us, not to go and speak in the open and it will amount to executive, legislative brouhaha. So, we will pick that up at the appropriate time,” he said. 

Also speaking on the security situation in the country, the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, said the federal government has adopted a new strategy towards waging total war against insecurity in the country. 

Ribadu, disclosed this while inaugurating the office building of Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, NCCSALW, for the North-Central zone in Minna yesterday, said the commissioning of the edifice was not about a building but renewed commitment by the Federal Government towards ensuring safer Nigeria for all. 

“The renewed step is about reinforcing our dedication to eradicating sources and channels through which these dangerous weapons find their ways into the hands of criminals. 

“As we know, the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons fuel all manner of criminalities, including but not limited to banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, pipeline vandalism, armed robbery and communal clashes, undermining the peace and stability of our country and communities,” he said. 

Ribadu, who was represented by Director-General, National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, Office of the National Security Adviser, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Johnson Babatunde Kokumo, retd, noted that the North-Central zone, including Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory, has faced its share of security challenges linked to the illicit circulation of arms. 

He added that siting of the zonal office in Minna, the Niger State capital, is strategic as it will enhance operational efficiency, intelligence gathering, stakeholders’ engagement and implementation of policies to mop-up illegal arms in the region. 

In his remarks, Governor Muhammed Bago, who officially inaugurated the edifice, described the step as a milestone achievement under the administration of President Bola Tinubu, noting that the North Central had been badly affected by insecurity, the proliferation of small arms and light weapons and promised to champion the establishment of state offices of NCCSALW in the zone. 

Former lawmaker and vocal critic, Shehu Sani, has also warned that Nigeria could continue to suffer if the terrorists were not urgently eliminated. 

Sani who once represented Kaduna Central in the Senate called on the Federal Government to step up the fight against terrorists in different parts of the country rather than focus on a security summit. 

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Sani said Nigeria has had enough talks about the spate of insecurity in the country and, therefore, needed an improvement in its approach to the war against the terrorists. 

According to him, it is a known fact that the Nigerian state is faced with a war against banditry and terrorism, a war, which he said had been going on for over a decade. 

The former Kaduna lawmaker said victory over terrorists and bandits was as important as the unity, peace, and survival of the Nigerian state. 

Sani said: “For us, we have talked too much about insecurity. What is needed for us is to step up our action, because our action as a government and as a nation has not been able to exterminate the activities of bandits and terrorists in our country. 

“We have had so many talks, summits and conferences about security and what is needed now is more action and we have seen, in the last one and a half decade, how terrorist in the northern part of Nigeria, up till this very time, are unleashing mayhem and havoc on innocent people, burning down villages, kidnapping people and extorting for ransom. 

“Each time you thought that they had been exterminated, in a few days, you would see them coming out more boldly and daring. So, we have had enough talks.” 

Proponents of the summit had argued that fresh engagements that would bring together a larger number of stakeholders could yield new ideas, forge a unified national security framework, and equip the military with updated strategies. 

Opposing lawmakers cautioned that the recommendations of past summits had not seen the light of day, and warned against repeating a fruitless exercise, but the motion scaled through, with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, directing that the ad hoc committee begin preparations immediately. 

Some observers don’t see the point of stirring bad blood over the issue while noting that ideas and revelations from the summit could prove very critical to the outcome of the ongoing military engagement as long as the country is spared the expenses of another jamboree which only enrich office holders and their contracting agents.