Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has raised alarm that ongoing global conflicts—including the Russia-Ukraine war and tensions in the Middle East involving Iran, the United States and Israel—are severely limiting Nigeria’s access to critical military hardware and ammunition needed to combat insecurity.
Musa said the intensifying wars have triggered a global scramble for arms, with producing nations prioritising direct combatants and countries capable of making bulk advance payments, thereby leaving Nigeria and other developing states at a disadvantage in defence procurement.
The minister spoke on Saturday in Abuja at the Nigerian People’s Strategic Conference and Defence Exhibition 2026, where he warned that the situation has exposed Nigeria’s heavy dependence on foreign defence suppliers.
According to him, stockpiles and production slots for weapons are increasingly tied up by countries actively involved in the conflicts, making it difficult for Nigeria to secure timely delivery of essential equipment.
“This global reality underscores the urgent need for Nigeria to develop a self-reliant defence industry,” Musa said, stressing that local production of arms and military hardware remains the only sustainable solution to the country’s security challenges.
He called for stronger government backing for indigenous defence manufacturers and innovators, noting that homegrown capacity would reduce pressure on foreign procurement channels and strengthen national security resilience.
The minister also decried the absence of a comprehensive national database, describing it as a major setback to intelligence gathering, criminal identification and effective policing.
Musa appealed to the National Assembly to support ongoing efforts to establish a reliable and inclusive national data system, saying it would significantly enhance the capacity of security agencies to track and prosecute suspects.
He commended the Nigeria Police Force for operating under what he described as “extremely difficult conditions,” despite lacking robust technological support systems required for modern law enforcement.
Beyond procurement challenges, the defence minister identified poverty, unemployment and illiteracy as key drivers of insecurity across the country, warning that failure to address them would continue to fuel recruitment into criminal networks.
He urged state governors to ensure that increased federal allocations translate into tangible improvements in citizens’ welfare, arguing that development at the grassroots remains central to long-term security stability.
Musa also cautioned against the unchecked proliferation of arms among community-based security groups, including vigilante structures, warning that poor regulation could create future security risks.
At the same event, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, reaffirmed the legislature’s commitment to strengthening national security through legal reforms, funding and oversight.
Kalu, however, stressed that military action alone cannot resolve Nigeria’s complex security challenges, calling for broader institutional reforms.
He disclosed that the ongoing constitutional amendment process includes reforms on local government administration, as well as renewed legislative backing for the proposed State Police Bill, which has already passed second reading in the House.
According to him, Nigeria’s centralised policing structure is increasingly inadequate for a population exceeding 220 million, insisting that decentralised policing has become inevitable.
Kalu also called for stronger private sector involvement in national security efforts, noting that businesses, financial institutions and technology firms have critical roles to play in addressing emerging threats.
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