Defence Minister urges investment in local technology to boost Nigeria’s security
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (retd.), has stressed the need for increased investment in indigenous defence technology, local manufacturing, artificial intelligence and strategic partnerships to strengthen Nigeria’s national security and reduce dependence on foreign sources for critical defence capabilities. He made the call at the maiden edition of the Defence Futures…
General Christopher Gwabin Musa, the former Minister of Defence, has advocated for increased investment in indigenous defence technology, local manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and strategic partnerships to bolster Nigeria's national security and decrease reliance on foreign sources of critical defence capabilities. Speaking at the inaugural Defence Futures Summit 2026, themed "Sovereign Digital Backbone and Defence Innovation," held on October 14, 2026, in Abuja, Musa described the summit as a pivotal platform to advance defence innovation, enhance technological sovereignty, and reconfigure Nigeria's defence infrastructure.
He urged Nigerians to maintain diligent efforts to unify the nation and enhance its technological prowess.
Musa emphasized that despite the nascent stages of information and communication technology, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies within Nigeria's defense sector, the country possesses the intellectual prowess, human resources, and innovative capacity to thrive in the rapidly evolving global defense landscape.
He underscored that the summit aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims for Nigeria not only to adopt emerging defense technologies but also to play a leading role in shaping future defense capabilities. The summit, according to Musa, is designed to transform Nigeria's security architecture, enabling the country to anticipate emerging threats rather than react to changes in modern warfare.
He stressed the necessity of moving beyond traditional military hardware to incorporate the knowledge system and technological infrastructure necessary to support contemporary military operations. Nigeria, Musa reiterated, cannot remain continually dependent on external sources for vital defense technologies, calling for ongoing investment in human capacity development, local innovators, defense industries, and research institutions.
Collaboration with the private sector is vital for constructing a robust defense industrial base that can translate Nigerian ingenuity into operational capabilities for the armed forces.
Musa expressed confidence in Nigeria's talent, ambition, and professional expertise to drive defense innovation according to global standards. He pledged the ministry's dedication to supporting endeavors that bolster indigenous capacity, stimulate technological innovation, and advance the pursuit of a resilient and self-reliant defense sector.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Post Nigeria's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
