In fulfilment of our constitutional mandate under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the Committee reaffirms its oversight responsibility to ensure that the defence and security architecture of our nation serves the people, not politics, not privilege, but the people.

We recognise that no nation can thrive when its citizens live in fear. When farmers abandon their fields, when children are displaced from their homes, and when communities are torn apart by violence, the very soul of the republic is at risk. This summit is therefore not a ceremonial gathering—it is a legislative contract with the Nigerian people.

The Chairman and members of the Senate Committee on Defence hereby make a public and moral commitment: the safety of Nigerians will never be compromised by personal interest, political expediency, or institutional inertia. Our allegiance is to the Constitution, to the flag, and to every citizen who calls this nation home.

The Nation First Summit aligns with our duty to promote strategic reforms in national security transitioning from reactive military operations to intelligence-led policing, community engagement, and early warning systems. It is a platform to interrogate the proposal for state policing, to draw lessons from global best practices, and to ensure that any reform strengthens, not fragments our national cohesion.

We call upon all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), security institutions, civil society organisations, and development partners to participate fully. Your insights will shape the Security Reform Blueprint that this Committee will champion in the National Assembly.

“The ruin of a nation begins in the homes of its people.” — African Proverb

Let us rebuild those homes. Let us restore that trust. Let us defend this nation—not just with arms, but with wisdom, courage, and unity.