Shettima asks African leaders to build indigenous military technology for long-term security

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has urged African leaders to prioritise indigenous innovation in military technology.

He noted that the continent must move from being a consumer of foreign solutions to a creator of homegrown systems that can guarantee its long-term security.

Speaking on Monday in Abuja at the African Defence Chiefs Summit, Shettima called for a reassessment of Africa’s military objectives, stressing that new realities of warfare demand a fresh doctrine anchored on trust, intelligence-sharing and coordinated strategy among member states.

“This is the moment to reassess our military objectives in the collective aspiration to make Africa safe. It is time to form a new doctrine in defence, one rooted in trust, shared intelligence and coordinated strategy,” the vice-president told the gathering of top military commanders.

He reaffirmed Nigeria’s role as a committed partner in regional peace and security, describing stability as the bedrock on which prosperity can be built.

According to him, Nigeria’s long-standing promise has been “to be a good neighbour and their brother’s keeper in the struggle for peace”.

Shettima cautioned that the nature of warfare has changed dramatically, noting that contemporary threats are “asymmetric and digital”, requiring responses that are both innovative and dynamic.

He said Africa could no longer afford to rely solely on imported solutions that do not fully address the continent’s peculiar security challenges.

“The nature of warfare has evolved, the threats of today are asymmetric and digital. Our response must not be less dynamic. We must invest in cyber defence, artificial intelligence and indigenous military innovation,” he said.

Shettima urged African states to use the Abuja summit not merely as a routine meeting, but as a platform to deepen cooperation through joint training, harmonised doctrines and interoperable defence systems.

By doing so, Shettima argued, African militaries could build collective capacity to anticipate and neutralise emerging threats.

“Africa cannot remain merely a consumer of technology. We must be creators, innovators and owners of the tools that secure our tomorrow,” he said.

The vice-president emphasised that Nigeria would continue to work with regional partners to strengthen peace and stability across the continent, reiterating that collective security is essential for sustainable development.

He expressed confidence that the summit would produce concrete commitments to reform the continent’s defence outlook.