The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd), has said indigenous defence technology, local manufacturing and a strong digital infrastructure are critical to Nigeria’s ability to address evolving security threats and safeguard its national interests.
General Musa stated this on Tuesday, October 14, 2026, at the Defence Futures Summit organised by Kryterion Africa in Abuja.
The summit, with the theme, _“Sovereign Digital Backbone and Defence Innovation,”_ brought together defence leadership, international partners and members of the innovation ecosystem to explore how technological advancement can strengthen Nigeria’s defence architecture.
According to the Defence Minister, in an increasingly technology-driven security environment, Nigeria can no longer depend wholly on foreign technologies and imported military hardware to confront terrorism, banditry, cyber threats and other emerging security challenges.
He stressed that building a sovereign digital backbone requires sustained investment in homegrown technology, greater participation by local manufacturers and strategic partnerships that facilitate the transfer of expertise and the development of innovative solutions tailored to Nigeria’s defence needs.
General Musa noted that the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu is committed to promoting self-reliance in defence production, in line with the drive to strengthen national security and conserve foreign exchange.
He said strengthening collaboration between the defence sector, local industries and technology innovators is essential to building a more capable, resilient and technologically advanced defence system.
“Strengthening collaboration between the defence sector, local industries and technology innovators is essential to building a more capable and technologically advanced defence system,” the Minister said.
The Defence Futures Summit provided a platform for defence stakeholders to deliberate on policy frameworks, funding mechanisms and innovation pathways that will accelerate local production of defence equipment, development of secure communication systems and deployment of digital infrastructure for intelligence and operations.
Industry experts at the event commended the Ministry of Defence for its renewed focus on indigenous solutions, noting that a sovereign digital backbone would not only boost operational efficiency of the Armed Forces but also create jobs, grow the economy and position Nigeria as a defence technology hub in Africa.
