The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has called for the adoption of digital technology to combat terrorism and other security challenges facing Africa.
Matawalle, who spoke in Abuja at the opening of the Africa Chiefs of Defence Staff Conference, said Africa must embrace innovation to tackle what he described as “serious and evolving security threats.”
“These challenges are complex, transnational, and increasingly asymmetric. Tackling them requires not just resilience but also strong continental cooperation,” he said.
In a statement signed by his personal assistant on media Ahmad Dan-Wudil and made available to journalists on Tuesday, the minister stressed that African countries cannot rely on traditional approaches alone to defeat militant groups.
He urged nations to invest in modern technologies, including artificial intelligence and cyberdefence, to counter groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, Al-Qaeda, and Al-Shabaab.
“The future of warfare is digital. As defence ministers, we must invest in artificial intelligence, cyberdefence, and indigenous military technologies,” Matawalle told participants.
He noted that Nigeria has long played a leading role in regional peacekeeping, counterterrorism, and humanitarian operations, and remains committed to strengthening defence partnerships across the continent.
Matawalle warned that no single nation could overcome Africa’s security challenges in isolation, stressing the need for unity, intelligence sharing, and trust among defence institutions.
“Africa must not just keep up with global trends, but we must take the lead in shaping them,” he said.