The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has highlighted the importance of collective national action to strengthen security and promote peace across Nigeria.
The Defence Chief remarked on the annual Defence Exhibition and Seminar at the National Defence College, Abuja, focusing on research, innovation, and national security.
The event, themed “Driving the ‘Nigeria First’ Policy Through Research and Development: National Security in Perspective,” brought together military officers, policymakers, researchers, and private sector innovators.
The focal point of the exhibition was the presentation of a newly developed airboat prototype, which features an 800-horsepower engine and is capable of achieving a maximum velocity of 100 kilometres per hour.
This prototype was developed through a collaborative effort between the Defence Research and Development Bureau (DRDB) and a private sector firm.
The Airboat is designed to ease access to the shallow waters of the Lake Chad Basin and the swampy creeks of the Niger Delta, areas often exploited by criminal elements.
Representing the Minister of Defence, Dr Mohammed Badaru, the Special Adviser to the Minister, Retired Major General Ahmed Jibrin, emphasised that most of Nigeria’s security threats are domestic, adding that “the solutions must be homegrown and readily adaptable.”
The Director General of the Defence Research and Development Bureau, Major General Emmanuel Ndagi, noted that the Bureau’s research activities are guided by the current security environment and the operational needs of deployed troops.
The Director General of Voice of Nigeria, Jibrin Baba Ndace, urged Nigerians to embrace indigenous innovations, saying that “as Nigeria continues to build homegrown technology, there must be homegrown acceptance of this technology.”
Also speaking, the Special Guest, Etemi Joshua Agarba of Epsilon Company, highlighted their work on unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and AI-enhanced technologies, explaining how artificial intelligence can analyse data to solve region-specific security problems.
He added that effective security demands collaboration between the military and civilians, noting that “the military protects the civilians, and the civilians must also be part of security.”
The exhibition also featured locally produced drones, surveillance systems, tactical communication devices, and combat gear, developed through collaborations between the military, academic institutions, and private firms such as Global Smart Fit Nigeria Limited, Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), and Epsilon Unmanned Systems.
Since its establishment in 1992, the National Defence College has continued to promote strategic leadership, innovation, and local content development in the defence sector.
The 2025 Defence Research and Development Bureau Seminar and Exhibition seek to strengthen the link between research, technology, and the private sector to advance Nigeria’s self-reliance in defence production and bolster national security.