The Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Christopher Musa, has said Nigeria’s current security challenges require a shift from relying primarily on kinetic operations to adopting intelligence-led and technology-driven strategies.
Musa made this known in his remarks at the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN) Conference on National Security and Awards Ceremony held on Monday in Abuja.
The conference was themed “Beyond Kinetic Warfare: Harnessing Technology and Intelligence-Led Operations for Nigeria’s National Security.”
The minister, who was represented at the event by his Senior Special Adviser on Foreign Relations, retired Air Commodore Steven Ogunmodede, said the theme reflected an operational reality that the Armed Forces and other security agencies must continually address.
He commended DECAN for choosing a theme that directly addressed the evolving nature of contemporary security challenges.
Musa observed that public understanding of security operations had long been shaped by visible military activities, including troop deployments, military engagements, the recovery of territories and arrests.
While acknowledging the importance of these activities in measuring operational efforts, he stressed that they did not provide a complete picture of security operations.
According to him, current security threats are becoming increasingly complex, adaptive and interconnected, with terrorist groups, criminal networks and other adversaries exploiting information, technology, financial systems and gaps in coordination.
He said addressing these threats required a combination of effective combat operations, timely intelligence, technological capabilities, sound planning and cooperation among relevant security institutions.
Musa described intelligence-led operations as the ability to identify threats early, understand their networks, anticipate their intentions and respond precisely. He explained that such an approach could determine whether an attack was prevented or responded to after lives had been lost.
The defence minister noted that technology could improve surveillance, reconnaissance, communications and analytical capabilities. However, he emphasised that these tools must be supported by trained personnel, reliable systems, effective doctrine and sound operational judgement.
He described technology as a force multiplier, stressing that it could not replace the human judgement, discipline and professional competence essential to military effectiveness.
Musa said the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Nigeria recognised the importance of these capabilities and continued to pursue strategies aimed at improving situational awareness, intelligence coordination and operational effectiveness.
He added that security institutions must remain willing to learn, adapt and innovate while ensuring that investments in technology translated into practical improvements in protecting lives, defending the country’s territorial integrity and responding to emerging threats.
The minister also underscored the need to strengthen cooperation across Nigeria’s security architecture, noting that no single institution possessed all the information and capabilities required to address the country’s current security challenges.
Defence Minister Highlights Media’s Role in National Security
Addressing the role of defence correspondents, Musa said the relationship between national security institutions and the media was sometimes shaped by competing demands: the public’s legitimate right to information and the operational requirements of security agencies.
He maintained that these interests should not be regarded as inherently incompatible, noting that responsible journalism promotes public understanding, encourages accountability and strengthens confidence in institutions.
He added that understanding operational realities could help ensure that media reports did not unintentionally undermine ongoing efforts to protect lives.
Musa explained that intelligence-led operations were not always visible to the public. He noted that an operation that successfully prevented an attack might produce no dramatic images, while successful intelligence efforts might never become public knowledge because the information needed to remain protected.
He therefore cautioned that the absence of visible military engagements should not automatically be interpreted as a lack of action.
The minister stressed that security institutions must strengthen public confidence by communicating information accurately, promptly and responsibly.
He urged defence correspondents to maintain professionalism and sound judgement, adding that scrutiny of the Armed Forces was legitimate and necessary. He also acknowledged that accurate reporting could contribute to improved institutional performance.
However, he warned against publishing unverified reports, sensitive operational details and information whose premature disclosure could expose security personnel, compromise operations or endanger civilians.
Musa clarified that his expectation was not for the media to abandon legitimate scrutiny but to balance the pursuit of information with an understanding of the possible consequences of reporting in a security environment.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Musa was invested as Grand Patron of DECAN at the event.
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