The Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Mohammed Bello Matawalle, has highlighted the significant strides made by the Nigerian Armed Forces in combating insurgency, banditry, and other threats to the nation’s stability under the current administration. However, many of these achievements remain undisclosed for security reasons, to protect the frontline officers engaged in these critical operations.
Dr. Matawalle made this disclosure during an engagement with Hadiza Bala Usman, the Special Assistant to the President on Policy and Coordination and Head of the Central Result Delivery Coordination Unit (CRDCU), at the Ministry of Defence headquarters, Ship House, Abuja. Usman was presenting the 2024 Performance Assessment Report on the Implementation of Presidential Priorities and Ministerial Deliverables for the first to third quarters.
The Minister noted that incidents of oil theft, bunkering, piracy, and kidnappings—once dominant in national discourse—have significantly decreased since the administration took office. He reassured Nigerians of the government’s commitment to further enhancing safety and security across the country. Matawalle also pledged to ensure the timely submission of achievement data to the CRDCU for review.
In her remarks, Hadiza Bala Usman urged the Ministry of Defence to increase transparency by sharing more data on the successes of the Armed Forces. She suggested conducting regional tours of conflict areas to gather firsthand testimonies from rescued individuals. Such initiatives, she noted, would provide tangible evidence of the government’s efforts and counter misinformation or doubts about the fight against insecurity.
During the review, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, MNI, presented a detailed report of the Ministry’s accomplishments. He commended the Chief of Defence Staff and the Service Chiefs for their relentless dedication to ensuring peace and safety across Nigeria.
Dr. Kana further charged the Ministry’s directors to remain committed to delivering their best for the country, emphasizing the need to build on the gains achieved in previous quarters.
This engagement underscores the government’s resolve to maintain focus on security while ensuring accountability and visibility of its achievements in the sector.
