The Ministry of Defence is a Ministry of the Federal Government of Nigeria with the statutory responsibility of overseeing and supervising the Nigerian Armed Forces. The Ministry of Defence is headed by the Minister of Defence, a cabinet-level head who reports directly to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Beneath the Ministry of Defence are four subordinate military components: The Nigerian Defence Headquarters, the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Air Force. Military operations and training are coordinated and managed by these components. Its main mission is “To provide administrative and support services, timely and effectively to enable the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to build and maintain a modern, compact, strong, professional, mission-capable and mission-ready Armed Forces, for the defence of National territory, maritime interest, airspace and the protection and defence of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and to contribute to peacemaking and peace-keeping duties worldwide under sub-regional and global organizations of which Nigeria is a member.”
History
The Ministry of Defence came into being on 1st October 1958, when the War Office granted control of the armed forces to the national government - earlier discussions have made that made the establishment of Ministry of Defence. In 1956, at the time of the visit of Queen Elizabeth II, the Nigeria Regiment was renamed The Queen's Own Nigeria Regiment, Royal West African Frontier Force as a mark of allegiance to the Queen of England. On 1 May 1958, the Naval Defence Force was legally established as a force and re-designated Royal Nigerian Navy. On 1st June, 1958, the British Army Council in London relinquished control of Nigerian Military Force to the Nigerian Government. Upon its creation, the ministry was given responsibility over the two branches of the military in existence at that time the Royal Nigerian Army and the Royal Nigerian Navy and later oversaw the founding of the Nigerian Air Force in 1964.
Responsibilities
The aims and objectives of the Ministry of Defence which are derived from the National Defence Policy are as follows:
Maintaining men of the Nigerian Armed Forces in a state of combat readiness on land, sea and air.
Maintaining a proper balance in arms and men to meet the needs of internal and external security;
Making provision for the welfare of the men of the Armed Forces in terms of training, accommodation, health care and other benefits aimed at boosting their morale.
Enhancing the capability and sophistication of the country’s Defence Industries in order to reduce the country's dependence on foreign sources of supply.
Ensuring security in the African continent by the promotion of a collective defence system through bilateral, sub-regional and continental co-operation to ward off external aggression and to attain the African objective of the national foreign policy; and
Headquartered at the Ship House in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory. The organizational structure of the Ministry is made up of the civilian and military components. The Minister of Defence, appointed by the President of Nigeria with the consent of the Senate, is the political head of the Ministry of Defence. The Minister is sometimes assisted by the Minister of State. The Permanent Secretary is the Accounting and Chief Administrative Officer of the Ministry. He coordinates and directs the activities of the Departments and Units in the Ministry.
Military organization
The Armed Forces Services Headquarters of the Ministry comprise the following:
The control of the Armed Forces, their joint operations and training rest with the Chief of Defence Staff Nigeria who coordinates the three Services while the three Service Chiefs are responsible for the day to day running of their respective Services.
Civilian organization
The civilization cell are nine operational departments within the Ministry: Joint Services, Army Affairs, Navy Affairs, Air Force Affairs, Human Resources, Planning & Statistics, Finance & Accounts, Procurement and Legal Departments each headed by a Civilian director. The civilian cell under the operational control of a civilian Director of the Nigerian Civil Service with others including:
General Domkat Bali General Sani Abacha General Theophilus Y Danjuma Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso General Aliyu Gusau General Munir Dan Ali General Bashir Salihi Magashi
