Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, has urged federal government to prioritise the creation of a homegrown defence industry and restructure the Nigeria Police Force as part of broader efforts to tackle insecurity.
Gatekeepers News reports that during his screening before the Senate on Wednesday, Oluyede said the nation’s heavy dependence on foreign suppliers for military hardware is unsustainable and financially draining.
Oluyede said, “For Nigeria to move forward, it is imperative that we develop our own local military industrial complex.”
“We can’t keep buying equipment from outside because these things are extremely expensive. The country must build its capacity to produce the equipment required to prosecute wars and address the security challenges facing us.”
The CDS noted that insecurity in the country has evolved beyond terrorism to include banditry, cybercrime, and misinformation, stressing that these threats require a collective national response.
He added, “In doing better, it requires a whole-of-society approach; everybody must be involved. It shouldn’t be left to the military alone to prosecute and face all these challenges.”
Oluyede further called for empowerment and restructuring of police, noting that several internal security operations handled by the army should ordinarily fall under the police’s jurisdiction.
He said, “Most of the job currently being carried out by the military falls within the purview of the police.”
“It’s important for the nation to empower the police, make it stronger and more formidable, so that they can do their job while we concentrate on defending Nigeria against external aggression.”
He also underscored the need to improve soldiers’ welfare, describing military service as a demanding profession that requires sacrifice, courage, and total dedication. While acknowledging limited resources, he reaffirmed his commitment to prioritising the well-being of troops and their families.
Reflecting on his previous tenure as Chief of Army Staff, Oluyede admitted that it was a challenging period but said significant progress had been made.
He said, “My tenure has been quite challenging, and while things have improved tremendously, we can do better. It requires a whole-of-society approach. It’s important for all hands to be on deck to make Nigeria safer.”
Oluyede added that effective leadership in the armed forces demands experience, endurance, and complete devotion to national safety.
He said, “It required cognate experience, sleepless nights, and total dedication to the safety of our nation. We all know resources are limited, but Nigeria must build its own capacity to confront emerging security threats from terrorism to cybercrime. If we fail to manage information effectively, our challenges will persist.”
