Nigeria is at a critical juncture in its national security strategy, necessitating an urgent shift from traditional defence approaches to technology-driven operations. This was the central message delivered at the closing ceremony of the NISECEXPO-DICON international defence and security exhibition in Abuja.
Retired Major-General Victor Ezugwu, the former Director-General of DICON, commended the exhibition for creating a vital platform for collaboration between African nations and international partners like Israel and Ukraine. He stressed that a strong, well-structured defence manufacturing system is essential to confront security threats that are increasingly complex, technology-driven, and managed by non-state actors.
The Technology Imperative
Both Ezugwu and Frank Ohwof, CEO of NISEC, underscored that technology is now a non-negotiable component of national security.
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Modern Warfare: Nigerian defence industries, including DICON and IPAL, gained valuable exposure to modern technologies like Artificial Intelligence and drones, which are now fundamental to contemporary warfare.
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Adversary Sophistication: Ohwof noted that criminals and terrorists are becoming “smarter, more educated, and technologically sophisticated,” making it mandatory for Nigeria’s security forces to match or exceed their capabilities.
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Transformation: The Nigerian Armed Forces are undergoing a major transformation from traditional war-fighting strategies to technology-driven security operations, recognizing the need to adapt to emerging asymmetric threats.
Focus on Local Production
Ezugwu expressed optimism that Nigeria’s defence sector would be significantly stronger within the next two years, citing the renewed political will demonstrated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly through the recent signing of the amended DICON Act.
He urged defence institutions to move past “the era of rhetoric” and fully shift to a result-driven phase of local defence manufacturing, especially at DICON’s Kauri facility, to provide the Armed Forces with urgently needed equipment.
Ohwof affirmed that the leadership of DICON is fully committed to translating the innovations showcased at the expo into actionable outcomes, ensuring the displayed technologies lead to real improvements in national and regional operational demands.
