The Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development has renewed its call for the scrapping of the Office of the Minister of State for Defence and the removal of the current office holder, Bello Matawalle.
The civil rights group made the call in a letter addressed to the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, raising concerns over the country’s worsening security situation. The group said Nigeria requires a courageous, visionary and versatile leader with a strong military background to head the Ministry of Defence and effectively coordinate the armed forces to tackle terrorism, insurgency, banditry, militancy, kidnapping for ransom and other forms of criminality.
Executive Director of the group, Alhaji Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, described the appointment of General Christopher Musa as Minister of Defence as a welcome development, saying it was widely accepted by Nigerians in the quest for improved national security, safety and order.
According to him, the resignation of the immediate past Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, paved the way for the emergence of a seasoned security chief whose leadership has restored confidence in the security sector and the fight against terrorism, insurgency and banditry.
“To efficiently coordinate and decisively flush out criminal elements in the country, it is crucial to scrap the office of the Minister of State for Defence and sack Bello Matawalle currently holding the position,” Shinkafi said.
The group argued that such a move would strengthen the Minister of Defence in the effective discharge of his statutory responsibilities of safeguarding Nigeria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
It noted that the Minister of State for Defence oversees critical areas such as the nation’s maritime domain, the Military Pension Board and the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, stressing that these responsibilities should be unified under one command for greater efficiency.
The group further stated that unifying the Ministry of Defence under a single leadership would prevent personality clashes between ministers and allow the current Minister of Defence, General Musa, a free hand to restructure and reposition the armed forces in collaboration with the President and the service chiefs.
Shinkafi emphasized that the call became necessary in view of the prolonged security challenges confronting the country, including over 15 years of terrorism, insurgency, banditry, militancy, secessionist violence and kidnapping for ransom.
He referenced recent security measures taken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, including the declaration of a state of emergency on security, the withdrawal of police personnel attached to important personalities, the recruitment of 50,000 security personnel, approval of ₦100 billion for the rehabilitation of security training institutions, and plans to deploy forest guards and hunters to secure forests nationwide.
According to the group, while the President has demonstrated readiness to confront criminal elements, further political will is required to scrap the Office of the Minister of State for Defence and remove its current occupant in the interest of national security.
The group claimed that Nigerians have continued to demand the removal of the Minister of State for Defence through the mainstream media, social media and public protests, stressing that security remains the primary purpose of government as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.
Shinkafi urged the US Ambassador to Nigeria to use ongoing diplomatic engagements with the Federal Government to encourage a review of the operational command and structure of the Ministry of Defence, describing the scrapping of the office of the Minister of State for Defence as a critical step toward achieving efficiency, stability and direction at this critical period of security emergency.
