Nigeria’s long-term security and ability to protect its national interests will depend not only on the strength of its military but also on its technological and industrial capacity, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), has said.
Speaking at the Omniverse Africa 3.0 Summit in Lagos, according to a statement issued on Thursday, General Musa stressed that modern security challenges demand strong local capabilities in technology, manufacturing and digital infrastructure.
He said national security in the 21st century is increasingly shaped by “the ingenuity of our innovators, the strength of our digital infrastructure, the sophistication of our industrial base, and our ability to create the technologies that shape the future.”
The Minister of Defence noted that Nigeria must move beyond relying on imported defence solutions and begin developing home-grown technologies capable of supporting national security objectives.
“The future demands that we move beyond being consumers of defence technology and become producers of it,” he said.
The Minister of Defence explained that contemporary security operations require more than conventional military equipment, pointing to the growing importance of unmanned systems, robotics, surveillance tools, cybersecurity, secure communications, artificial intelligence governance, advanced manufacturing and data-driven decision-making.
He disclosed that the Ministry of Defence is reviewing its operational doctrine, procurement framework and training programmes to meet emerging security realities.
“Our objective is to secure the nation today and build the capabilities that will secure it tomorrow,” he stated.
The Minister of Defence said the strategy aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on industrial growth and national development.
He revealed that reforms being implemented at the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) are aimed at creating opportunities for economic expansion, technology-driven jobs, academic research and commercial enterprise.
General Musa also announced the launch of the Defence Futures Lab Pathway, describing it as a platform designed to encourage cooperation among innovators, researchers, start-ups, industry players and the defence sector.
“It is an opportunity for innovators, startups, researchers, industry leaders, and the defence community to think ahead, organise better, and contribute to building a stronger national capability,” he said.
He maintained that countries that will dominate the future are those that invest in both protecting their sovereignty and developing the technologies required to sustain it, insisting that Nigeria must position itself among such nations.