Abuja: The Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Christopher Musa, has emphasized the need for Nigeria to bolster its local defence production capabilities and reduce its reliance on foreign military equipment to effectively tackle emerging security concerns. Musa made these remarks at the Nigerian People’s Strategic Conference and Defence Exhibition 2026, held in Abuja, with a focus on integrating private sector capacity into Nigeria’s national security framework.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Musa highlighted that recent global conflicts have underscored the challenges associated with depending on international suppliers for crucial defence and security equipment. He pointed out that during international crises, countries often encounter difficulties in acquiring essential military assets, thus making local production a strategic imperative for Nigeria.
Musa asserted that Nigeria has the potential to develop indigenous defence technologies and security solutions to meet its operational needs. He praised local defence manufacturers for their contributions to producing military vehicles, drones, surveillance systems, and other security technologies. The minister also called for increased patronage of locally manufactured defence equipment to bolster the nation’s industrial base and enhance self-reliance.
Furthermore, Musa advocated for greater support for universities, research institutions, and young innovators who are developing solutions in intelligence gathering, surveillance, and threat detection. He noted the transformative impact of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, drones, satellite imagery, biometric systems, and predictive analytics, on global security operations. He stressed the importance of Nigeria embracing these technologies while ensuring they align with national interests and legal frameworks.
The minister emphasized that security is a collective responsibility involving government institutions, security agencies, the private sector, and local communities. He highlighted the complexity of modern security threats, including terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, cybercrime, and attacks on critical infrastructure, and the need for community participation in national security efforts.
Musa urged citizens to provide timely information to security agencies and resist supporting criminal elements within their communities. He also called for stronger public-private partnerships in security, noting that private firms could assist in intelligence gathering, infrastructure protection, cybersecurity, surveillance, and emergency response operations. He stressed that such partnerships should 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 Nigeria’s territorial integrity and combating various security threats.
Earlier, Mr. Charles Awuzie, the Convener of the conference, stated that the event was designed 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 mentioned that the conference would become an annual forum for strategic engagement on national security and development, fostering partnerships and encouraging innovation to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.