Nigeria must stay ahead of emerging security threats to defend nation – Musa

The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd), has said Nigeria must stay ahead of emerging security threats in order to secure the country, adding that Nigeria’s strategic frontier is increasingly shaped by security challenges that cut across the land, maritime, air and cyber domains.

The minister stated this on Thursday in Abuja at a policy colleuium themed,“Securing the Frontier: Strategic Defence Architecture, Emerging Technologies and Democratic Integrity in Nigeria.”

Accordding to him, addressing these challenges requires a more integrated defence posture, supported by effective intelligence coordination, joint operations and interoperability across the Armed Forces and other relevant security institutions.

“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 minister said the leadership President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s resolve to strengthen national security and provide the Armed Forces with the capabilities required to protect the nation.

“This strategic direction recognizes that a secure and stable Nigeria is essential to the protection of our sovereignty, the preservation of our democratic institutions and the advancement of national development.

“In line with this priority, the Ministry of Defence remains focused on strengthening defence capabilities, advancing military modernization and ensuring that the Armed Forces are adequately positioned to respond to the demands of the security environment,” he said.

Musa added that technology is increasingly becoming a decisive factor in defence and national security.

Accordding to him, rapid advances in artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, surveillance and reconnaissance, cyber capabilities and other emerging technologies are transforming military operations and altering the strategic environment.
“Nigeria must therefore remain at the forefront of these developments by investing in relevant technologies and strengthening the human, doctrinal and institutional capacity required to integrate them into our defence capabilities.

“This is essential to maintaining operational advantage and preparing the Armed Forces for future security challenges. The advancement of technology also underscores the strategic importance of strengthening Nigeria’s defence industrial base,” he said.
He added that the colloquium provides a timely opportunity to deepen the strategic conversation on the future of Nigeria’s defence and security.

He said the theme is particularly relevant to the security realities confronting the nation.

“It speaks to the need for a defence and security posture that remains responsive to changing threats, harnesses technological advancement and reinforces the institutions that underpin our national security and democratic order,” he said.

In her welcome remarks, the Special Adviser to the Minister on Media, Leah Katung-Babatunde, said the Policy Colloquium was conceived as a rigorous, non-partisan bridge, bringing together defence strategists, policy architects, technologists, civil society leaders, academics, the media, and key state actors under one roof.

“We are not assembled here today merely to catalogue challenges, but to forge actionable pathways, inform public policy and construct a practical blueprint for national resilience,” she said.