Defence Minister Calls for Increased Investment in Technology, Security

Musa said the Ministry of Defence remains committed to strengthening the country’s defence capabilities, advancing military modernisation and ensuring that the Armed Forces are adequately prepared to respond to emerging security challenges.

The Minister made the call while speaking at the Second Policy Colloquium organised by the Ministry of Defence in collaboration with Saban Media Services.

The colloquium, themed **“Securing the Sovereign Frontier: Strategic Defence Architecture, Emerging Technologies and Democratic Integrity in Nigeria,”** focused on the need for a responsive defence and security posture capable of adapting to evolving threats, leveraging technological advancements and strengthening the institutions that support national security and democratic governance.

Musa noted that Nigeria’s strategic security environment is increasingly influenced by threats spanning multiple domains, including land, maritime, air and cyberspace.

He stressed that confronting these challenges would require a more integrated defence strategy anchored on effective intelligence coordination, joint operations and greater interoperability among the Armed Forces and other relevant security agencies.

“Our defence architecture must remain agile and forward-looking, with the capacity to anticipate threats, respond decisively, and protect Nigeria’s territorial integrity and vital national interests,” he said.

The Defence Minister described technology as an increasingly decisive factor in modern defence and national security, noting that rapid developments in artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, surveillance and reconnaissance, cyber capabilities and other emerging technologies are reshaping military operations and the broader strategic environment.

He therefore urged Nigeria to remain at the forefront of these developments by investing in relevant technologies while building the human, doctrinal and institutional capacity required to effectively integrate them into the country’s defence capabilities.

Also speaking, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, represented by the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Mr Lanre Issa-Onilu, highlighted the growing importance of cognitive security to national security.

He said artificial intelligence offers significant opportunities for development, innovation, education and national security.

“The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recognises technology and innovation as important drivers of Nigeria’s development under the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said.

Earlier, the convener of the colloquium, Mrs Leah Katung-Babatunde, said the concept of national sovereignty now extends beyond geographical boundaries into the digital and technological space.

According to her, the modern sovereign frontier encompasses automated systems, satellite networks, algorithmic environments and information ecosystems that influence public trust and national stability.

She noted that artificial intelligence, cyber infrastructure, geospatial analytics and autonomous technologies offer unprecedented opportunities to strengthen Nigeria’s ability to protect its national interests.

However, Katung-Babatunde cautioned that without clear policy frameworks, ethical oversight and sufficient local technological capacity, the same technologies could create new and complex vulnerabilities.

The Second Policy Colloquium brought together stakeholders to examine Nigeria’s evolving defence architecture and explore strategies for harnessing emerging technologies while safeguarding national security, democratic institutions and Nigeria’s sovereign interests.