Matawalle urges Africa to invest in defence technology at Abuja summit

By Kunle Sanni –

Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has called on African nations to invest heavily in cutting-edge military technology to confront emerging security threats across the continent.

Speaking at the inaugural African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit in Abuja on Monday, Matawalle warned that the future of warfare would be “digital, fast-moving, and unpredictable,” stressing that Africa must not only adapt to global defence trends but also lead in shaping them.

“Africa must take the lead in shaping the future of defence,” the minister said. “As defence leaders, we must invest in technology to stay ahead of emerging threats.”

The three-day summit, hosted by Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, brought together military leaders, senior government officials, and security experts from across Africa. The event, themed “Combating Contemporary Threats to Regional Peace and Security in Africa: The Role of Strategic Defence Collaboration,” addressed terrorism, insurgency, maritime insecurity and cyberattacks.

Vice President Kashim Shettima represented President Bola Tinubu at the summit, which was also attended by Senate and House defence committee leaders, Deputy UN Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, former Guinean Prime Minister Lansana Kouyaté, and former Nigerian Foreign Minister Professor Ibrahim Gambari.

Matawalle praised the Tinubu administration’s efforts to strengthen the Nigerian Armed Forces and deepen regional security partnerships, saying these measures have reinforced Nigeria’s leadership in continental peace and stability initiatives.

He urged African countries to build indigenous military-industrial capabilities and called for the institutionalisation of the summit as an annual platform for cooperation, with standing working groups to sustain progress.

“Together, we can ensure that Africa’s security is no longer a distant dream but a tangible reality,” Matawalle said, emphasising the importance of unity, intelligence-sharing, and joint training among African militaries.