Nigeria has called on African countries to reduce dependence on foreign military equipment, strengthen indigenous defence industries and deepen regional cooperation to tackle terrorism and other transnational security threats.
The Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Christopher Musa, made the appeal during a strategic meeting with African Ministers of Defence and Chiefs of Defence Staff at the Africa International Defence Exhibition and Conference (AFRIDEX 2026) in Lagos. He urged the continent to move beyond being a theatre of geopolitical competition and become an influential force in global security decision-making.
Musa identified terrorism, violent extremism and organised crime as challenges that require coordinated continental responses. He called on ECOWAS and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) to sustain practical security cooperation despite political differences, stressing the importance of intelligence sharing, border coordination and joint counterterrorism operations. He also advocated stronger diplomatic efforts to address conflicts in Sudan and the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Addressing Africa’s reliance on imported military hardware, spare parts and technical support, the minister described the situation as a strategic vulnerability. He called for local manufacturing, technology transfer, joint research and regional defence partnerships, identifying the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) as a potential platform for collaboration in joint production, technical training and equipment maintenance.
He further urged African countries to invest in emerging defence technologies, including unmanned systems, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and counter-drone capabilities. Musa also advocated stronger maritime security cooperation, improved operational readiness of the African Standby Force and a structured follow-up mechanism to translate AFRIDEX commitments into measurable results.
Other African defence leaders commended Nigeria’s hosting of the event and pledged to work towards implementing its recommendations.
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