Northern youths under the banner of the Northern Youths Concert Citizens (NYCC) have commended Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Hon. Dr Bello Muhammad Matawalle, for what they describe as a deliberate effort to reposition the country’s defence diplomacy. They said protecting Nigeria’s maritime domain is central to national prosperity, safeguarding oil and trade routes, fishing communities and deterring cross-border criminal networks. According to him,”Coupled with increased training and technical support, these assets, they added, strengthen Nigeria’s layered defence posture across land, air and sea. ” Technology-sharing deals and training programmes, the group stressed, lay the foundation for Nigeria to grow its own maintenance, shipbuilding and defence-support industries.