Nigeria’s Defence Minister calls for innovation in intelligence to counter evolving threats

The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar, has called for urgent innovation within Nigeria’s intelligence architecture, warning that traditional methods are no longer sufficient to tackle the rapidly evolving tactics of criminal and extremist groups.

Speaking on Monday at the Chief of Defence Intelligence Annual Conference 2025 in Abuja, Abubakar stressed that criminal syndicates now exploit modern communication networks to coordinate attacks and evade detection.

He noted that the nation’s security environment has grown increasingly complex and unpredictable.

“Nigeria’s security environment has become increasingly dynamic and contested.

“We no longer confront a single, predictable enemy; instead, we face adversaries who exploit technology, hide within civilian populations, manipulate communication networks, and operate across both physical and digital spaces with unprecedented speed.

”From terrorism, banditry, and cybercrime to violent extremism and disinformation campaigns, today’s threats are multidimensional, rapidly evolving, and often unpredictable, ” he said.

According to the Defence Minister, technological superiority is now a decisive factor in national security.

He explained that threats were no longer defined principally by terrain or manpower but by the speed, precision, and depth of actionable intelligence.

For Nigeria to maintain an advantage, its intelligence system must be driven by innovation, agility, and strategic integration.

Abubakar highlighted the theme of this year’s conference, “Multi-Source Intelligence and Innovation in a Changing National Security Ecosystem”, as a reflection of the country’s evolving security landscape.

He emphasised the Ministry of Defence’s priority of developing a seamless, fully integrated intelligence operations framework, ensuring real-time data flow between the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), service headquarters, and operational theatres.

Commending the DIA’s recent initiatives, he highlighted the implementation of the Joint Intelligence Mission Data and Analytics System (JIMDAS), which integrates cognitive analytics and enhances cyber-monitoring capabilities.

“These initiatives are not mere technological upgrades but genuine force multipliers.

“When synchronised effectively, they improve operational responsiveness and empower field commanders to make intelligence-driven decisions that save lives and secure victories.”

The Defence Minister also underscored that technology alone cannot guarantee superiority.

“Technology does not deliver superiority; people do.

”It is the trained, disciplined, and intuitive intelligence officer who transforms raw data into actionable national defence,” he said.

In his keynote address, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, represented by Senator Ahmed Lawan, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence, stressed that fusing intelligence streams is essential for detecting and neutralising complex threats before they escalate.

He highlighted the continued relevance of the Defence Attaché System in advancing defence diplomacy and safeguarding Nigeria’s strategic interests abroad.

Akpabio also noted the critical role of State Office Coordinators, describing them as the backbone of ground-level intelligence collection and coordination.

According to him, synergy between domestic and international intelligence operations reinforces the whole-of-government approach needed to counter emerging threats.

Earlier, the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lieutenant General Emmanuel Undiandeye, reported that coordinated troop operations supported by effective intelligence have significantly degraded the capabilities of adversarial groups in several regions.

He warned that the fluid and unpredictable nature of current threats demands continuous innovation and adaptability from state security forces.

The conference ended with a shared commitment from Nigeria’s defence and intelligence leadership to leverage innovation, technology, and inter-agency coordination in safeguarding the nation against emerging security challenges.