The Minister of Defence of Nigeria is a senior cabinet official in the Nigerian Federal Executive Council in charge of the Nigerian Ministry of Defence

Ministry of Defence (Nigeria)

The Nigerian Ministry of Defence is the government department charged with ensuring Nigeria's national security. It consists of the defence services headquarters, the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Air Force, the Nigerian Navy, and other defence agencies and departments.The current Defence Minister...

. The Defence Minister's main responsibility is to manage all branches of the Armed Forces

Military of Nigeria

The Nigerian Armed Forces are the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The military has active duty personnel in three armed services, totaling approximately 85,000 troops and 82,000 paramilitary personnel. Its origins lie in the elements of the Royal West African Frontier Force that...

 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Nigeria

Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...

, to maintain a modern, competent, and professional military force for the protection of the national territory, maritime interests, airspace, and constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Appointment

The Minister of Defence is first appointed by the President of Nigeria

President of Nigeria

The President of Nigeria is the Head of State and head of the national executive. Officially styled President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces. The current President of Nigeria is Goodluck Jonathan.-History:On October 1, 1960, Nigeria gained...

; this appointment is then subject to ratification by both houses of the National Assembly of Nigeria.

Schedule of Duties

• Maintaining a mission-ready military on land, sea and air.
• Maintaining a proper balance in arms and men to meet the needs of internal and external security;
• Enhance the capabilities of the country’s Defence Industries.
• Ensure 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
• Participation in Peacekeeping
  Peacekeeping
  Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
  
   missions through the United Nations (UN)
  United Nations
  The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
  
  , African Union (AU)
  African Union
  The African Union is a union consisting of 54 African states. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established on 9 July 2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity...
  
   and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Ministers of Defence

Name	Term
Iya Abubakar Iya Abubakar Professor Iya Abubakar is a Nigerian mathematician and politician who was Federal Minister of Defence during the Nigerian Second Republic, and Senator for Adamawa North from May 1999 to May 2007.-Birth and academic career:...	1979–1981
Akanbi Oniyangi Akanbi Oniyangi Akanbi Mahmoud Oniyangi was a Nigerian politician and former Minister for commerce and Defense during the aborted second republic. He was born in Kwara State and was educated at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria...	1981 to 1983
Domkat Bali Domkat Bali General Domkat Bali is a retired four star General of the Nigerian Army, he was minister for defense and member of the Supreme Military Council of 1984-1985 and the Armed Forces Ruling Council of 1985-1990. Joined the Nigerian Army in 1961...	1984 to 1990
Sani Abacha Sani Abacha General Sani Abacha was a Nigerian military leader and politician. A Kanuri from Borno by tribe, he was born and brought up in Kano, Nigeria. He was the de facto President of Nigeria from 1993 to 1998....	1990–1994
Theophilus Danjuma Theophilus Danjuma General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma GCON FSS psc is a Nigerian Jukun soldier, politician and billionaire businessman. He was Nigerian Army Chief of Army Staff from July 1975 to October 1979. He was formerly Minister of Defence under Olusegun Obasanjo...	1999–2003
Rabiu Kwankwaso	2003–2007
Thomas I. Aguiyi-Ironsi	2006–2007
Yayale Ahmed Yayale Ahmed Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, CFR is a Nigerian politician from Azare, Bauchi State, and was Defence Minister of Nigeria. Ahmed is the Ajiyan Katagum, a Katagum Emirate position, and the Akowojo of Idanre Kingdom, in Ondo State....	2007–2008
Shettima Mustapha Shettima Mustapha Shettima Mustapha, OFR is a Nigerian academic and politician who served as Minister of Agriculture , and in 2007 was appointed Minister of Defense in the cabinet of President Umaru Yar'Adua...	2008–2009
Godwin Abbe Godwin Abbe Godwin Osagie Abbe Godwin Osagie Abbe Godwin Osagie Abbe (born January 10, 1949 in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria is the Defence Minister of Nigeria since July 14, 2009. Prior to this, he had served as the Nigerian Minister of Interior since July 26, 2007.-Military career:...	2009–2010
Adetokunbo Kayode Adetokunbo Kayode Adetokunbo Kayode, Senior Advocate of Nigeria held several positions in the cabinet of President Umaru Yar'Adua and was appointed Defence Minister of Nigeria in April 2010 by the then Acting President Goodluck Jonathan.Adetokunbo hails from Ikaram-Akoko in Ondo State and holds the traditional...	April 2010 -