Develop indigenous tech security solutions, defence minister tells innovators

The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (Rtd), has called on Nigerian innovators, startups, and researchers to direct their expertise toward developing homegrown solutions to the nation’s security challenges. Musa also disclosed that his Ministry has commenced restructuring its doctrine, acquisition processes, and training to prioritise areas including unmanned systems and robotics. The retired General, […]

The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (Rtd), has called on Nigerian innovators, startups, and researchers to direct their expertise toward developing homegrown solutions to the nation’s security challenges.

Musa also disclosed that his Ministry has commenced restructuring its doctrine, acquisition processes, and training to prioritise areas including unmanned systems and robotics.

The retired General, who stated this in Lagos when he spoke at the Omniverse Africa 3.0 Summit, explained that national security in the 21st century could no longer depend solely on conventional military hardware.

This was contained in a statement issued Thursday night by his Special Assistant on Media, Mrs Leah Katung-Babatunde.

The Minister listed surveillance technologies, cybersecurity and resilience, secure communications, AI governance, data-driven decision tools, and advanced domestic manufacturing as parts of things being restructured.

Delivering his keynote address themed: “The 70/30 Rule: Why Nigeria’s Security and Innovation Agenda are the Same National Project,” he stressed the need for Nigeria to transition from a consumer to a producer of defence technology.

“The future requires us to complement courage with technology, foresight, industrial capability, and innovation. We must secure the nation today, but we must also build the capabilities that will secure the nation tomorrow,” he said.

Musa linked the push to President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for industrialisation, noting that ongoing reforms at the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria is to create an ecosystem where defence investments drive economic growth, high-tech jobs, university research, and new commercial markets.