A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State, Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has written to the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, urging diplomatic engagement with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the need to restructure Nigeria’s Ministry of Defence to improve coordination in the fight against terrorism and other security threats.
In the letter, which was delivered to and acknowledged by the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, Shinkafi advocated a unified leadership structure at the Ministry of Defence following the appointment of General Christopher Musa (retd.) as Minister of Defence.
The letter, dated December 15, 2025, was signed by Shinkafi in his capacity as Executive Director of Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development.
“The security situation in Nigeria requires a leader with a military background to effectively coordinate the armed forces,” he stated.
Shinkafi called for a review of the current structure of the Ministry of Defence, warning that retaining both a Minister of Defence and a Minister of State for Defence could lead to administrative overlap and weaken operational coordination.
“It has become necessary to unify the Ministry of Defence under one command,” the letter read.
According to him, a streamlined structure would strengthen the authority of the Minister of Defence to effectively oversee the armed forces and work more directly with the President and service chiefs on critical security reforms.
The APC chieftain also referenced recent security initiatives announced by President Tinubu, including increased recruitment into the armed forces and improved funding for military training institutions, noting that administrative reforms would further enhance these efforts.
He cited constitutional provisions that place the security and welfare of citizens as a top priority and urged the U.S. Embassy to raise the matter during ongoing security engagements with Nigerian authorities.
“A streamlined command structure would enhance efficiency and effectiveness in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges,” Shinkafi added.
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