By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), has called for a more integrated, technology-driven and forward-looking defence architecture to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges and safeguard the country’s democratic institutions.
Speaking at the 2nd Policy Colloquium 2026 held at the Armed Forces Events and Multipurpose Centre, Asokoro, Abuja, on Thursday, the Minister said the complexity and changing character of contemporary threats demand renewed strategic thinking, institutional adaptation and sustained national commitment.
The colloquium, organised under the theme, “Securing the Sovereign Frontier: Strategic Defence Architecture, Emerging Technologies and Democratic Integrity in Nigeria,” brought together defence strategists, policymakers, academics, technologists, civil society leaders, media practitioners and security experts to examine the future of national security in an increasingly digital world.
General Musa noted that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to strengthening national security and providing the Armed Forces with the capabilities required to protect the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
According to him, a secure and stable Nigeria is essential for preserving democratic institutions, protecting national interests and creating an enabling environment for socio-economic development.
The Defence Minister explained that Nigeria’s security landscape is increasingly shaped by threats spanning the land, maritime, air and cyber domains, making it imperative for security agencies to adopt a more coordinated and interoperable approach.
He stressed that effective intelligence coordination, joint operations and stronger collaboration among security institutions are critical to ensuring that Nigeria remains ahead of emerging threats and security risks.
Musa also highlighted the growing influence of technology on modern warfare, noting that advances in artificial intelligence, cyber capabilities, surveillance systems, unmanned platforms and reconnaissance technologies are transforming military operations globally.
He urged greater investment in technological innovation, human capacity development and institutional reforms to ensure that the Nigerian Armed Forces are adequately prepared for future security challenges and capable of maintaining operational superiority.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the convener of the colloquium described the gathering as a timely platform for addressing the changing nature of sovereignty, arguing that national security can no longer be viewed solely through the lens of physical borders and conventional military engagements.
The organisers observed that the concept of the sovereign frontier now extends into cyberspace, satellite networks, automated systems and information ecosystems, making digital resilience and technological sovereignty critical components of national defence.
Delivering the keynote policy briefing, Prof. Muhammed Tawfiq Ladan, Coordinating Director of the AfCFTA Law and Policy Programme Division at the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), said Nigeria must redefine its understanding of security in line with contemporary realities.
Drawing from Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, which declares the security and welfare of the people as the primary purpose of government, Ladan argued that safeguarding national sovereignty now requires a blend of military preparedness, cyber resilience, institutional transparency and democratic accountability.
The legal scholar identified strategic defence architecture, emerging technologies and democratic integrity as the three critical pillars that should guide Nigeria’s security policy, adding that effective national defence must balance security imperatives with the protection of civil liberties and constitutional governance.
He further recommended the creation of a unified national security technology roadmap, strengthened cyber-defence capabilities, enhanced inter-agency intelligence sharing, stronger legislative oversight of emerging technologies and increased investment in indigenous defence manufacturing. The colloquium concluded with participants expressing confidence that the recommendations generated from the dialogue would contribute to building a more resilient, technologically advanced and democratically accountable security framework for Nigeria.
