Defence Minister Calls for Increased Security Investment to Accelerate Technology Integration into Defence Capabilities
Linus Aleke in Abuja The Minister of Defence, Major General Christopher Musa (Retd.), has called for increased security investment to accelerate the integration of technology, human, doctrinal and institutional capacity
Major General Christopher Musa (Retd.), Nigeria's former Defence Minister, has urged for increased security investments to expedite the incorporation of technology, human resources, strategic thinking, and institutional capacity into the nation's defence capabilities. General Musa reiterated the Ministry of Defence's commitment to bolstering military modernization, ensuring the Armed Forces are prepared to respond to evolving security demands, and maintaining a responsive defence and security posture.
This stance was expressed at the Second Policy Colloquium, organized by the Ministry of Defence in collaboration with Saban Media Services, under the theme "Securing the Sovereign Frontier: Strategic Defence Architecture, Emerging Technologies and Democratic Integrity in Nigeria." Nigeria's security landscape is increasingly impacted by challenges across land, maritime, air, and cyber domains, necessitating an integrated defence approach backed by effective intelligence coordination, joint operations, and interoperability among the Armed Forces and other relevant security institutions.
The General emphasized that a defense architecture must be agile and forward-looking, capable of anticipating threats, responding decisively, and safeguarding Nigeria's sovereignty and vital national interests. Technology, particularly artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, surveillance and reconnaissance, cyber capabilities, and other emerging technologies, is rapidly transforming military operations and reshaping the strategic environment.
Nigeria must therefore stay ahead of these developments by investing in relevant technologies and fortifying the human, doctrinal, and institutional capacity to integrate these advancements into its defense framework. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, represented by the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Mr. Lanre Issa-Onilu, highlighted the importance of cognitive security, a component of national security that involves the use of artificial intelligence.
The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu views technology and innovation as key drivers for Nigeria's development under the Renewed Hope Agenda. Mrs. Leah Katung-Babatunde, the organizer of the colloquium, noted that today's sovereign frontier extends beyond geography, encompassing the digital domain, automated systems, satellite networks, algorithmic landscapes, and information ecosystems that uphold civic trust.
She stressed that artificial intelligence, cyber infrastructure, geospatial analytics, and autonomous capabilities offer significant opportunities to protect Nigeria's national territory. However, she cautioned that without clear policy governance, ethical oversight, and local technological depth, these tools could introduce new vulnerabilities.
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