By SUMAILA OGBAJE

The Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Christopher Musa, says Nigeria must strengthen local defence production and reduce reliance on imported military hardware to effectively address emerging security challenges.

Musa stated this at the Nigerian People’s Strategic Conference and Defence Exhibition 2026 in Abuja.

The conference has as its theme: “Building a Modern Security Ecosystem: Integrating Private Sector Capacity into Nigeria’s National Security Architecture.”

He said recent global conflicts had exposed the risks associated with dependence on foreign suppliers for critical defence and security equipment.

According to him, countries often face difficulties procuring essential military assets during international crises, making local production a strategic necessity.

“Nigeria cannot continue to depend entirely on imported security solutions.

“Recent global conflicts have demonstrated how difficult it can be to procure critical military and security equipment during periods of international crisis,” he said.

The minister said Nigeria possessed the capacity to develop indigenous defence technologies and security solutions capable of meeting its operational requirements.

He commended local defence manufacturers and innovators for their contributions to the production of military vehicles, drones, surveillance systems and other security technologies.

Musa called for deliberate patronage of locally manufactured defence equipment to strengthen the country’s industrial base and enhance self-reliance.

He also advocated increased support for universities, research institutions and young innovators developing solutions for intelligence gathering, surveillance and threat detection.

The minister said emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, drones, satellite imagery, biometric systems and predictive analytics were transforming security operations globally.

According to him, Nigeria must embrace these technologies while ensuring they serve national interests and operate within established legal frameworks.

Musa stressed that security was no longer the responsibility of government alone, describing it as a collective responsibility requiring collaboration among government institutions, security agencies, the private sector and local communities.

He said modern security threats, including terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, cybercrime and attacks on critical infrastructure, had become increasingly sophisticated and technology-driven.

The minister noted that criminals often relied on local collaborators for intelligence, logistics and financial support, making community participation essential to national security efforts.

He urged citizens to provide timely information to security agencies and resist supporting criminal elements operating within their communities.

Musa also called for stronger public-private partnerships in security, saying private firms could support intelligence gathering, infrastructure protection, cybersecurity, surveillance and emergency response operations.

He said such partnerships must be properly regulated and coordinated to complement, rather than replace, statutory security institutions.

The minister proposed strengthening legal frameworks for public-private security cooperation, promoting local defence manufacturing, investing in training and establishing secure platforms for information sharing.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the Armed Forces and other security agencies to defending the country’s territorial integrity and combating terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and oil theft.

According to him, military action alone cannot solve Nigeria’s security challenges, stressing the need for a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to national security.

Earlier, the Convener of the conference, Mr Charles Awuzie, said the conference was conceived as a platform to bring together government, defence institutions, industry leaders, technology innovators, investors and citizens to explore practical solutions for building a modern and coordinated national security ecosystem.

Awuzie said the initiative evolved from an initial focus on private security into a broader national platform aimed at promoting inclusive dialogue on defence, security, innovation and public-private collaboration.

He announced that the conference would become an annual forum for strategic engagement on national security and development, stressing that security concerns affect every Nigerian regardless of profession, location or social status.

According to him, the platform is designed to complement existing government efforts by fostering partnerships, encouraging innovation and generating actionable recommendations capable of strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture. (NAN)

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