The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has said Nigeria is developing indigenous capabilities to neutralise contemporary security threats.
Akume spoke yesterday at the Second Annual Defence Research and Development Bureau (DRDB) Seminar and Exhibition 2025 at the National Defence College in Abuja.
Represented by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, the SGF said research and development in the defence sector is no longer an option but an imperative for the nation’s survival, stability, and leadership on the African continent.
According to the SGF, in today’s rapidly evolving global environment and changing nature of warfare, national interests are projected through national power, underpinned by military strength, supported by research, technological advancements, innovation, and the sophistication of operational platforms.
He noted that numerous global examples demonstrate that the most secure countries are those that have advanced defense technologies, including cyber defense, unmanned systems, and artificial intelligence.
Akume said: “For Nigeria, research and development in the defence sector is no longer an option but an imperative for our survival, stability, and leadership on the African continent. We are compelled to keep pace with global trends by developing indigenous capabilities that can neutralize contemporary threats.
“Through the work of the Defence Research and Development Bureau, Nigeria should demonstrate the capacity to harness local talent, indigenous knowledge, abundant natural resources and technological innovation to provide solutions that reduce reliance on external sources.”
The SGF cited the Ezugwu Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle, designed by DICON in collaboration with the Nigerian Army’s Command Engineering Depot, as a prime example of Nigeria’s investment in research and innovation paying off.
The Nigerian-made armoured vehicle has been battle-tested in the Northeast, proving that Nigerian ingenuity can produce world-class military hardware.
He stressed that similar feats included the development of indigenous Tsaigumi unmanned aerial vehicle (2018), recognised as Nigeria’s first indigenous operational drone for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance.
“These achievements strengthen our sovereignty by lessening our dependence on foreign arms and technology. When we build what we need, we control our destiny,” Akume said.
The SGF emphasised that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda recognises security, a robust economy, and national unity as core elements for achieving development aspirations.
He noted that in line with this vision, the Tinubu administration has taken bold steps to enhance the capabilities and capacity of military institutions and personnel.
“This is reflected in the huge investments in military technology, fighting platforms, training of personnel, establishment of specialised military institutions, establishment of new brigades and units.
“He has similarly enhanced the daily allowances for military rations as well as post-retirement benefits for members of the armed forces,” Akume said.
The SGF stated that the Defence Research and Development Bureau (DRDB), established in 2022, is a forward-thinking initiative aimed at providing strategic direction for self-reliance in defense and security, and has become a catalyst for our military-industrial complex, poised to transform Nigeria from a consumer of foreign military technology to a self-sufficient producer, potentially earning much-needed foreign exchange through international sales.
“This second annual seminar affords us the opportunity to assess, showcase, and project the critical role of research and innovation in advancing our national defence and security policy and It similarly underscores the fact that knowledge and innovation remain the bedrock of a robust home grown national defence strategy, projection of our national power and the demonstration of our commitment to a safer and more secure Nigeria.
“We shall also acquire the power of deterrence,” Akume said.
The SGF highlighted areas where the current administration would support DRDB in achieving this vision.
He said these include adequate investment in security and defense infrastructure; building high-quality human capital through public-private partnerships; promoting research and collaboration across tertiary institutions; promoting indigenous technology; and establishing governance systems and structures that reward ingenuity and encourage calculated risk-taking on new ideas.
