The Minister of Defence, Major General Christopher Musa (retd.), has called for increased local production of military equipment and ammunition, saying Nigeria’s dependence on foreign suppliers is affecting efforts to tackle insecurity.
Musa said global conflicts and supply chain disruptions had made it increasingly difficult to procure essential military hardware, even when funds were available.
He spoke on Friday while commissioning the CG Musa Security Management Hub, donated to the TETFund Centre of Excellence in Security Management at the University of Ibadan.
According to him, Nigeria must strengthen its defence manufacturing capacity by exposing local producers to international manufacturers to enhance technology transfer and domestic production.
He said the difficulty in accessing weapons and ammunition had contributed to the prolonged security challenges facing the country, adding that local manufacturers needed more support to meet the military’s requirements.
The minister also emphasised the importance of research, technology and collaboration between security institutions and universities, noting that military operations alone could not address the complex causes of insecurity.
He said the military had intensified its operations, with gradual improvements in the security situation, while urging Nigerians to support security agencies by reporting suspicious activities.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, said the new hub would provide a platform for multidisciplinary research and collaboration between academics and policymakers. He urged that the facility be used to generate data capable of guiding security policies and operations.
The Lead Researcher and Technical Officer at the centre, Prof. Isaac Olawale Albert, called for increased government funding to enable the institution to undertake research that would inform security policies. He also urged security agencies to engage the centre’s experts.
Earlier, the Director of the centre, Prof. Benjamin Aluko, commended the minister for donating the facility and encouraged Nigerians to enrol in the university’s MSc and PhD programmes in Security Management.
