The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has visited the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to attend a conference of Ministers of Defence from Africa, Europe and Arab nations, where the plans to solve the security challenges in the regions, would be discussed.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the aide to the Minister on new media, Yariman Ganuwa.
Ganuwa in a statement via a Facebook post, noted that Matawalle will also take time out to perform the lesser hajj (Umrah)where he will pray for peace and success in Nigeria.
According to the Minister’s aide, the meeting expected to kick off on February 2 in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, will see defence ministers from around the region discussing strategies and issues relating to securing their respective areas.
Meanwhile, Matawalle’s visit to the holy land is coming on the heels of his participation in a two-day roundtable on security in northern Nigeria organised by the Coalition of Northern Groups in Abuja, chaired by General Abdusalami Abubakar GCFR (Rtd).
The roundtable meeting brought together key figures to address the persistent issue of insecurity in Northern Nigeria, and the rest of the country.
Among those who attended the meeting were: His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Dr. Sa’adu Abubakar; Executive Governors from Gombe, Kaduna, Zamfara, Katsina, Bauchi, and Nasarawa and the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar.
Other attendees were: Chief of Defence Staff, General C.G Musa; former Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki, and the former Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari among other notable figures from various sectors.
