By Martin Ekpeke
In a major policy address addressing the evolving face of warfare, Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, has declared that technological innovation is now a matter of strategic survival for the nation.
Speaking as the special guest of honour at the Omniverse Africa Summit 2026 on “Innovation Day,” Gen. Musa delivered a presentation centered on the theme: “Defence, Innovation, and the Future of National Security.”
Commending the summit’s organizers for uniting government, startups, investors, and international partners to reshape Africa’s future, Gen. Musa emphasized that national security has shifted dramatically away from traditional boundaries, noting that emerging digital capabilities have completely redefined how modern military forces must prepare for conflict.
“The battlefield is no longer confined to land, sea, and air. It now extends into cyberspace, information networks, digital infrastructure, and the broader contest for technological advantage,” Gen. Musa stated.
The Minister listed several key technologies currently transforming global defense structures, explicitly highlighting the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics. He further noted that cyber technologies and secure communication networks are reshaping how nations prepare for modern threats.
Additionally, autonomous systems, drones, and robotics have emerged as critical components of the changing battlefield. Finally, advanced communications and emerging digital capabilities are playing a vital role in shifting the landscape of technological advantage.
He warned that the implications for Nigeria are straightforward: nations that fail to rapidly innovate will struggle to secure their future.
Addressing Nigeria’s immediate security landscape, Gen. Musa explained that innovation is not a theoretical discussion, as the country faces active, complex threats, including terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, oil theft, piracy, cyberattacks, and threats to political infrastructure.
While praising the courage and sacrifice of the men and women in the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Minister stressed that bravery must be complemented by industrial capability. A central pillar of his presentation was a call to end Nigeria’s over-reliance on foreign technology.
“Nigeria must not remain merely a consumer of technology. We must increasingly become producers, developers, adapters, and owners of critical capabilities. We have the potential, but we must move beyond potential,” he asserted.
To achieve this, the Minister called for a massive strengthening of local capacity to design, build, and maintain defense systems. This includes domestic development of cybersecurity frameworks, unmanned systems, surveillance technologies, and advanced manufacturing capabilities.