The Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lieutenant General Emmanuel Undiandeye, has affirmed that the future of national security lies in deliberately integrating technology with human intelligence to anticipate and neutralise threats before they emerge.
Lieutenant General Undiandeye stressed that this approach is now at the core of the Defence Intelligence Agency’s operations.
He was speaking in Abuja Nigeria’s Capital, at the 2025 Chief of Defence Intelligence Annual Conference.
The conference, with the theme: “Multi-source Intelligence Innovation in a Challenging National Security Ecosystem”, drew attendance from senior defence intelligence officials, defence attachés and advisers, regional directors, and state coordinators.
General Undiandeye stated that “Nigeria’s security environment remains dynamic and complex, despite challenges across operational theatres.”
He further stated that while “the Armed Forces continue to display courage and professionalism, today’s security landscape demands a multidimensional and multi-agency approach to intelligence collection, analysis, and dissemination.”
He said this required stronger integration of human, signals, open-source, imagery, and data-based intelligence in order to improve institutional awareness and strengthen leadership decision-making.
The CDI noted that innovations in data analytics, artificial intelligence, and inter-agency information sharing can support the development of a unified national intelligence framework capable of driving strategic and operational decisions.
General Undiandeye disclosed that the DIA has already commenced reforms in line with this vision, including digitisation of intelligence processes, enhancement of special and cyber-intelligence capabilities, and creation of specialised task groups to deepen collaboration with intelligence and law-enforcement agencies.
He said these reforms are designed to ensure the intelligence product remains timely, relevant, and comprehensive.
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The CDI emphasised that the use of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics is now a global transformative force. With the volume of information generated daily far exceeding manual processing capacity, the DIA is embedding these technologies to achieve a decisive advantage both in conflict and stability operations.
He explained that “Nigeria’s defence attachés play an increasingly vital role in advancing intelligence diplomacy through partnership-building, intelligence exchanges, and joint training activities.” This, he said, boosts Nigeria’s strategic posture and contributes to regional stability.
General Undiandeye warned that emerging threats are no longer limited to traditional warfare. Transnational organised crime, cyber-insecurity, misinformation, and digital destabilisation require a holistic and preventive response.
He said this is why the DIA is investing heavily in personnel training to enhance analytical competency and maintain ethical standards.
General Undiandeye disclosed that “the agency has commenced use of the Defence Intelligence Agency Technology Centre, established last year, which operates using current-generation technologies and will focus on cyber security, artificial intelligence, robotics, machine learning, and data analytics.”
The CDI said the annual conference provides an opportunity to assess current threats, review operational lessons, and strengthen intelligence cooperation between the DIA, defence advisers, national and international partners, and key institutions.
He added that it also allows the agency to evaluate the activities of its defence sections and regional and state operations while harnessing collective expertise to protect Nigeria’s national interest.