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Badaru: Nigeria to boost military capabilities through technological innovations
Nigeria says it is committed to boosting the capabilities of its military through innovations in technology.
The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar stated this in Abuja, saying it would be achieved through enhanced Research and Development (R&D).
Speaking at the Defence Research and Development Bureau (DRDB) Annual Seminar and Exhibition on Tuesday, the Minister stressed the importance of leveraging local innovation to overcome the challenges posed by global and regional security threats.
Addressing the audience as the Special Guest of Honour, the Minister said: “Our national security strategy acknowledges the vital role of innovation in fostering a secured and prosperous nation. To effectively respond to today’s dynamic threats, we must integrate a Military Industrial Complex that promotes self-reliance and local production of military equipment.”
Mati Ali, Personal Assistant to the Minister on Media and Publicity, in a statement sent to Nationwide Reports, said Badaru further highlighted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, emphasizing the President’s commitment to advancing Nigeria’s defence production capacity through the DICON Bill of 2023.
The seminar, themed “Enhancing Synergy in R&D Towards a Robust Military Industrial Complex in Nigeria”, is aimed to promote collaboration among stakeholders in the defence sector. The Minister underscored the critical need for synergy, stating that R&D is the backbone of any successful Military Industrial Complex. “It is through collaboration and cooperation that we can harness cutting-edge technologies and stay ahead of emerging threats,” he explained.
Consequently, he said the Ministry will continue to support DRDB’s efforts to develop indigenous military technology, stating that: “We are committed to fostering policies that encourage private sector participation and capacity building in defence research. Together, we will build a self-reliant nation with a strong defence posture.”
Two Nigerian-born scientists—Adesola Adegoke, a researcher at Arizona State University (ASU), and Seunnla Adelusi, a PhD candidate at the Université de Sherbrooke, Canada—have been named among the 20 global winners of the Digital GreenTalents Award 2025.
These two Nigerians were announced among the winners during a virtual ceremony held on 25 November. In a statement following the virtual announcement ceremony, the organisers said the 20 awardees for this year joined from different time zones, including “very early morning in Canada and evening hours in the Philippines.”
The digital Green Talent Award is an annual initiative of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) that recognises outstanding young researchers whose work advances sustainability through digital innovation.
Each year, 20 scientists are selected from a competitive global pool for their cutting-edge ideas at the intersection of digitalisation and environmental sustainability.
Alex Otti, the Abia State Governor, on Sunday paid a visit to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, at the Sokoto Correctional Centre.
The governor was accompanied by officials of the Sokoto State Government during the closed-door visit.
Nnamdi Kanu was recently moved to Sokoto after he was convicted on terrorism-related charges and handed a life sentence by a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Governor Otti had earlier promised to pursue every lawful and political avenue to ensure that Kanu gets justice. Sunday’s visit is seen as part of ongoing efforts by the Abia State Government regarding his case.
Details of the meeting were not made public as of the time of this report.
Armed terrorists have abducted a bride-to-be, her bridesmaid, and eight other residents from Chacho village in Wurno Local Government Area of Sokoto State
The Sokoto abduction occurred around 1:30 a.m., according to residents, when the attackers stormed the village. Most of the victims were women, with only one man also taken.
One resident sustained injuries and is receiving medical treatment. Villagers told reporters that the bride was preparing for her wedding scheduled for later that morning when the raid struck, plunging the community into shock and mourning.
A community member described the attack as “tragic,” noting the delay in security response. “Security operatives were alerted immediately, but they only arrived about an hour after the bandits had fled,” he said, expressing frustration.
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