By Jamila Muhammad

Nigeria needs to strengthen intelligence gathering, deploy modern technology and improve cooperation among security agencies to confront evolving security threats, the Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Christopher Musa, has said.

Mr Musa made the call on Monday in Abuja at the conference and awards ceremony of the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN), where he stressed the need to complement conventional military operations with more sophisticated approaches to national security.

The conference was themed “Beyond Kinetic Warfare: Harnessing Technology and Intelligence-Led Operations for Nigeria’s National Security”.

The minister, represented by his Senior Special Adviser on Foreign Relations, retired Air Commodore Steven Ogunmodede, said the changing nature of insecurity required security institutions to rethink how they detect, prevent and respond to threats.

He commended DECAN for choosing a theme that reflected the realities confronting the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies.

According to him, military achievements should not be judged solely by visible activities such as troop deployments, battlefield engagements, territorial gains and arrests, as many critical security successes depend on intelligence and preventive action.

He said terrorists, criminal groups and other hostile actors were increasingly exploiting technological tools, financial networks, information systems and weaknesses in coordination among security agencies.

Mr Musa argued that an effective response required a combination of combat readiness, accurate intelligence, technological innovation, strategic planning and stronger collaboration among relevant institutions.

He explained that intelligence-driven operations enabled security agencies to identify threats before they materialised, trace criminal networks, anticipate attacks and conduct targeted interventions to minimise casualties.

The minister, however, cautioned that acquiring modern equipment alone would not guarantee success without adequately trained personnel, dependable systems and sound professional judgement.

He described technology as an instrument for enhancing military effectiveness, rather than a substitute for the expertise, discipline and decision-making abilities of security personnel.

Mr Musa said the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces were committed to improving intelligence sharing, strengthening situational awareness and adopting methods capable of enhancing operational performance.

He added that security institutions needed to remain innovative and responsive to emerging threats, while ensuring that investments in technology delivered measurable improvements in protecting citizens and safeguarding Nigeria’s territorial integrity.

The minister also called for closer coordination across the country’s security framework, noting that no single agency had all the resources, information and expertise required to address the nation’s security problems.

Turning to the media’s role in national security, Mr Musa said defence reporting required a careful balance between citizens’ right to know and the need to protect sensitive military activities.

He maintained that responsible journalism could promote transparency, strengthen public understanding of security operations and improve confidence in government institutions.

The minister noted that intelligence successes were not always visible to the public, explaining that operations that successfully prevented attacks might attract little attention, while sensitive intelligence could not always be disclosed without compromising security.

He said the absence of dramatic military engagements should not necessarily be taken as evidence that security agencies were inactive.

Mr Musa urged security institutions to communicate with the public accurately and promptly, saying credible information was essential to sustaining public trust.

He also encouraged defence correspondents to uphold professional standards, verify information and exercise sound judgement in reporting security developments.

While acknowledging the importance of media scrutiny in improving the performance of the Armed Forces, he warned that publishing unconfirmed claims or disclosing sensitive operational information prematurely could put military personnel, ongoing missions and civilians at risk.

He said journalists should continue to hold security institutions accountable while remaining mindful of the potential consequences of their reports in a sensitive operational environment.