Nigeria’s Defence Minister, General Christopher Musa, has urged the nation’s technology sector, which includes innovators, researchers, and startups, to take a more proactive role in enhancing national security through solutions developed locally.
He made this request in Lagos at the Omniverse Africa 3.0 Summit, where he presented a keynote address titled “The 70/30 Rule: Why Nigeria’s Security and Innovation Agendas are the Same National Project,” as stated by his Special Assistant on Media, Leah Katung-Babatunde.
Musa contended that contemporary security issues can no longer be resolved solely with traditional military hardware, emphasizing the necessity for Nigeria to reduce its dependence on imported defense technology and focus on developing its own capabilities.
He stated that the nation must integrate military power with innovation, strategic foresight, and industrial capacity, asserting that the future of security will rely on technological progress as much as on operational strength.
He noted that the Ministry of Defence is currently reassessing its policies, procurement processes, and training frameworks to prioritize emerging technologies such as unmanned systems, robotics, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence governance, surveillance tools, secure communications, data-driven decision-making systems, and local manufacturing capabilities.
He connected the ongoing reforms to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its emphasis on industrial development and technological self-sufficiency.
Musa also pointed out the reforms at the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, indicating that they aim to create a broader ecosystem where defense investments drive economic growth, generate skilled employment, support academic research, and unlock new commercial prospects in high-tech industries.
Musa pushes AI, Robotics, cybersecurity In Defence Reform Plan
