The Defence Headquarters has said that border security and indigenous technological advancement will form key pillars of Nigeria’s future defence strategy.
In a statement signed by the Director, Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, on Tuesday, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, made this known at the inaugural lecture of the Joint Doctrine and Warfare Centre.
Oluyede said the military was entering “a new era of strategic military evolution,” stressing that self-reliance and regional collaboration are critical to addressing security challenges.
He said the Armed Forces are prioritising the strengthening of local defence production through the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria and other local manufacturers, while also recognising “the important role of border security to our internal security and the need to maintain good relations and cooperation with our neighbouring countries.”
The CDS reiterated the importance of synergy among the services, noting that “single service efforts will not always bring out the desired operational outcomes,” and emphasised the need for joint operations leveraging the strengths of each arm of the military.
He added that the outcome of the lecture would be presented to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to secure broader stakeholder support for implementation of its recommendations.
Also speaking, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (retd.), described Nigeria’s security strategy as a “whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach.”
He said the JDWC, established in July 2025, serves as the “intellectual engine room where different military branches learn to leverage one another’s strengths,” adding that “true operational superiority is achieved only when ground, naval, and air forces act as a single, overwhelming entity supported by the vigilance of the Nigerian citizenry.”
Earlier, the Director General of the JDWC, Maj. Gen. A.E. Edet said the centre had made significant progress within six months of its establishment and pledged it would remain “relentlessly focused” on advancing technology and innovation for national security.
The statement added that the inaugural lecture marked a milestone in strengthening joint military operations and coordination, with attendance by service chiefs, former Chiefs of Defence Staff led by Gen. Alani Akinrinade, senior military officers, members of the diplomatic community and heads of security agencies.
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