NIGERIA’S DEFENCE MINISTER CALLS FOR INTEGRATED INTELLIGENCE TO COMBAT EVOLVING SECURITY THREATS AT THE 2025 CHIEF OF DEFENCE INTELLIGENCE CONFERENCE

The Honourable Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar, CON, mni, has charged the nation’s security architecture to adopt a “Seamless Intelligence–Operations Integration Framework” to effectively counter contemporary security challenges.

The Minister, issued this critical charge as the Special Guest at the 2025 Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI) Annual Conference in Abuja, which gathered Defence Attachés, intelligence experts, senior military officials, and international partners.

Addressing the conference held on monday, 24 November 2025 at the Armed Forces Officers’ Mess in Asokoro, Abuja, under the theme “Multi-Source Intelligence and Innovation in a Changing National Security Ecosystem,” the Minister conveyed the goodwill of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty through robust intelligence management. He highlighted that in the face of evolving threats like terrorism, banditry, and cybercrime, innovative and robust intelligence management is non-negotiable.

Minister Badaru pointed to specific advancements by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), such as the Joint Intelligence Fusion and enhanced cyber monitoring capabilities, as essential “force multipliers” for national security. He firmly reiterated that Nigeria’s ultimate intelligence strength lies in its people, advocating for continuous training and capacity building.

The Minister outlined key strategic priorities, emphasizing the need for real-time data exchange, enhanced regional collaboration in cross-border intelligence and maritime security, and stronger inter-agency synergy. He encouraged participants to “think boldly and propose innovative solutions that deliver real impact,” assuring them of the administration’s full support in aligning these efforts with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which connects national security to economic development.

“Through vigilance and unity of purpose, we will strengthen Nigeria’s security foundations,” he declared. The Minister commended the Chief of Defence Intelligence and his team for their dedication and wished all participants fruitful deliberations at the event.