…No modern conflict can be successfully prosecuted using only one element of national power

The Honourable Minister of Defence, H E. Muhammed Badaru Abubakar, has advocated for jointness of Operations amongst all the security forces of the nation in combating modern conflicts saying that no modern conflict can be successfully prosecuted using only one element of national power.

The Minister said this while giving his closing remarks at the Air Power Consult Senior Leadership Forum on: “Emerging Trends and Threats in the Battle Space and their impact on employment of Airpower” .

According to Badaru, a nation needs a whole of government approach in fighting more modern conflicts. He said: “In reality and concomitant to this reality is that, in the use of the military element of national power, no single service can hope or expect to successfully overcome the modern hydra-headed complex conflicts. Therefore, we need to move away from paying mere lip service to something as fundamental to our success as a sector as Jointness.”

Furthermore, he said that Nigeria has conceptualized it. “We are using it in our training, we must adopt it in our operations. The Ministry of Defence will continue to enhance jointness within the armed forces, building upon the existing collaboration and cooperation that has been a hallmark since the inception of the present administration,” he explained.

He commended the organiser of the forum; a unique body of patriotic, retired senior Nigerian Air Force officers under the aegis of Air Power Consult, which was aptly described as “a body of thinkers”. “I appreciate you all for organizing this special forum to enlighten us and agitate our minds on emerging trends and threats in the contemporary battlespace, and their impact on the delivery and sustenance of Air Power,” he said.

“Your efforts and resources, in terms of time, intellectual and financial resources expended in putting together such an interaction as this, are clearly proofs of the patriotic zeal of these officers who despite having paid their dues and meritoriously served our nation and now retired, but still continue to concern themselves with the affairs of the Country,” he thanked them.

The Minister added that Air Power is essential and has a pivotal role in ensuring the successful outcome of any joint action and other aspects of modern conflict.

He said that the truth was perhaps at the root of the desire and clamour of every arm of our military and indeed the Nigeria Police and other para-military organizations like Nigerian Customs Service, Nigerian Immigration Service, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the Federal Road Safety Corps to acquire organic air assets to support their individual operations.

“However, this desire and clamour must be interrogated dispassionately especially within the context of the fact that a whole Service, the Nigerian Air Force was established and is being funded and equipped to manage the nation’s air power,” he explained.

Also, the Minister explained that the emerging technologies are by their nature disruptive and particularly more so in the conduct of warfare and the resolution of conflicts. And to maintain our edge as the dominant military power in our region and to adequately confront the plethora of security challenges facing us as a nation, we must immediately begin to integrate these technologies into our warfighting capabilities. Our defence and services research and development outfits and must evolve from being mere “staff organizations” to actual development organizations.

“To this end, the Ministry of Defence will focus on establishing effective communication with the Ministries of Science and Technology, Communication, Trade and Investment, and other pertinent government ministries and agencies. This will facilitate the production and application of technologies developed by our research and development institutions,” he stated.

The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Defence, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar kana, mni has said that Nigerian Government will continue to deepen military bilateral relations with the Tanzanian government.

Dr Kana stated this as contained in a statement signed by Henshaw Ogubike Mnipr Director ( Information and Public Relations) of the ministry when he received the delegation from Tanzania National Defence College Course 12/2023/24 in Ship House who are on familiarization visit /study tour to Abuja.

According to him, the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Tanzanian government have a good bilateral understanding on military relations.

He said that the familiarization visit/study tour by the Tanzanian National Defence College Course 12/2023/24 participants would open more high level discussion that will culminate into a more reinforced Military Cooperation as a working tool for greater achievements for Tanzania and Africa at large.

The Permanent Secretary, who was represented by the Director Joint Services Department, Mrs. Olu Mustapha received the delegation on behalf of the Permanent Secretary.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Commodore BT Rutambuka, SDS Navy commended the Permanent Secretary on the military cooperation between both countries.

He appreciated the Permanent Secretary for granting them audience adding that their visit to Nigeria was to seek more knowledge on the activities of the defence sector of Nigeria that will help them excel in their career.

Consequent to his position on the recent attack on the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR by a spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), it has come to the attention of The Minister that Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed who once served as the Spokesperson of the group and currently a Special Adviser on Political Matters in the Presidency took to his page on it to express a different position.

This was contained in a communique signed by the Honourable Minister, H.E Bello Mohammed Matawalle MON, Minister of State for Defence

According to Dr. Baba-Ahmed ,the stand of the minister against the unjust and spurious attack against the new administration of President Tinubu that is working very hard to reposition our country and economy for better as ‘ill-advised’. He suggested I could have done a better job in my defence of the administration where I have the rare honour to serve as a Minister.

Dr. Baba-Ahmed’s relationship and affinity with Northern Elders’ Forum(NEF)is well-known. The fact now is that he is an appointee of the administration as Special Adviser and it is incumbent on him to work for the success of the government he is part of, protect and defend the government against unjust and vicious attacks from those who hide under ethnic and other primordial interests to heat up the polity for myopic reasons

It is pertinent to state that every appointee of President Tinubu including Dr. Baba-Ahmed owe the government a copious duty to promote, elucidate and advance the good works and commendable efforts of the government across all sectors.

As appointees of the government from the North, we must all take a stand, be unequivocal and be counted in the roll of honours for our support and work for the success of the administration we are serving. This is not the time to keep quiet in the face of intimidation and misrepresentation of the efforts and achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR . We must stand up to be counted for being on the part of government or take our exit.

The Niger Delta Youth Congress (NDYC) extends its heartfelt commendation to His Excellency Bello Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defense, for his outstanding performance and dedication to duty within the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Matawalle has unequivocally emerged as the epitome of excellence, embodying unparalleled vigor and vision in his role.

This Commendation was contained in a press statement signed by Comrade Israel Uwejeyan
National Coordinator, Niger Delta Youth Congress (NDYC).

Under Matawalle’s astute leadership, the Ministry of Defense has witnessed unprecedented strides, marked by a series of proactive measures aimed at safeguarding our nation’s sovereignty and ensuring the safety and security of its citizens.

His relentless commitment to enhancing the capabilities of our armed forces and fostering strategic partnerships underscores his unwavering resolve to fortify the nation’s defense architecture.

Moreover, Matawalle’s inclusive approach to governance has fostered a conducive environment for dialogue and collaboration, thereby promoting unity and cohesion among diverse stakeholders.

His adept handling of complex security challenges demonstrates a rare blend of foresight and decisiveness, earning him admiration and respect from all quarters.

The NDYC acknowledges Matawalle’s tireless efforts in promoting peace and stability in the Niger Delta region, fostering sustainable development, and empowering the youth through various initiatives.

His proactive engagement with stakeholders and implementation of pragmatic policies have significantly contributed to the region’s socio-economic transformation and improved livelihoods.

In light of these remarkable achievements, the Niger Delta Youth Congress proudly hails Bello Matawalle as the best, most active, and most proactive Minister in the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.

His exemplary leadership serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration for all Nigerians, and we pledge our unwavering support as he continues to steer the nation towards greater heights of peace, prosperity and progress.

***They do not Speak For the Region- Bello Matawalle

The attention has been drawn to the threats issued by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which is ‘reprehensible and naive’. It is preposterous for a group of people seeking political relevance to overburden the system and create political disunity among Nigerians.

This was made available in a communique from the media office of the Minister while responding to comments made by the Northern Elders Forum

In his words the minister said the so-called NEF is more or less a political paperweight trying to embark on a destructive journey that will bring the North to disrepute for the group’s personal and selfish gains .

In addition : “This NEF is more of a political burden to Northerners. The group is seeking to erode other people’s rights in order to be recognised or made relevant in the scheme of things despite the failure of their sponsored candidates in the 2023 general elections.

In as much as many have overlooked them in respect of their utterances, it is pertinent to underscore their overbearing attitude on issues that affect political unity and cohesion. They can not offer any positive idea or thought about the future of Northern Nigeria or, indeed, of Nigeria and its unity and togetherness.

We all know President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR won the February 2023 presidential election convincingly. So, who is the NEF to want to undermine the president’s victory and even threaten to unseat him?

This same group of people have intentionally shied away from their responsibility of engendering unity in the North by appreciating the incremental development being brought to the North by Ministers appointed by President Tinubu from the North, especially North West. The NEF has not deemed it fit to seek audience with Mr. President to discuss issues affecting the Northern region despite the numerous challenges facing the North as rightly highlighted by the President and being addressed by him.

“The group is yet to visit any of the ministers dealing with issues of security, agriculture, water resources, police affairs, Education,Health, Budget, foreign affairs, or any head of security agencies in the country so far for first hand knowledge of government programs and actions.

The majority of them are more interested in faulting the government so as to be recognised or accorded some relevance.

Our region, the North, is united, disciplined and politically-driven enough not to listen and accept being teleguided by any group of elites who had fed fat in the past on the North’s resources and opportunities which had retarded development in the region and nation due to their selfishness.

President Tinubu is poised to do a lot for the North as President of Nigeria, elected by the people of Nigeria, not by one ethnic group or the other, therefore, anyone mistakenly seeing President Tinubu as a failure or a weakling is making a mistake and should rethink.

Such a person or group is either blind or misguided and unable to see the new Nigeria that is emerging.

Therefore, the NEF’s statement allegedly expressing regret for voting for President Tinubu is unfortunate.

NEF is not more than a group that has refused to accept reality and is living in delusion.
The truth is that the North is proud of its support and vote for President Tinubu and will continue to be proud of her relationship with the President given the enormous change and development his government has brought to the region.

“My advice to NEF and others alike , is to support the present government and join hands with President Tinubu GCFR in order to further move the country forward.”