The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd.), has said ongoing global conflicts, including the Israel-Iran crisis and the Russia-Ukraine war, are affecting Nigeria’s ability to procure military equipment needed to tackle insecurity.
Musa made this known in Abuja while delivering a keynote address at the Nigerian People’s Strategic Conference and Defence Exhibition 2026.
According to him, many countries involved in major conflicts are placing heavy demands on weapons manufacturers, making it difficult for other nations, including Nigeria, to access critical military hardware on time.
The Defence Minister said some countries with stronger financial capacity make advance payments and book production slots ahead of others, leaving countries like Nigeria facing delays in securing needed equipment.
He stressed that the situation has shown the urgent need for Nigeria to invest more seriously in local defence production instead of depending heavily on foreign suppliers.
Musa commended indigenous defence manufacturers and innovators, urging stronger government support and patronage for locally produced military equipment.
He also raised concern over the lack of a comprehensive national database, saying security agencies, especially the police, face serious difficulties tracking criminals and preventing crimes without reliable data.
The minister added that citizens must also support security agencies with timely intelligence, warning that security operatives cannot effectively fight crime when communities fail to report suspicious activities.
He further urged state governors to ensure that increased federal allocations reach the grassroots, noting that poverty, illiteracy and unemployment remain major drivers of insecurity across the country.
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