Efficient Security Under Democracy

The 2nd edition of the Policy Colloquium, hosted by the Saban Media Services in partnership with the Ministry of Defence, took place at the Armed Forces Event and Multi-Purpose Centre. Abuja. The event drew the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (retd), and senior government officials. The Coordinating Director of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Law Policy Programme Division in the office of the Director General, National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, National Assembly, Abuja, Professor Muhammed Tafiq Ladan, delivered the keynote address on the theme: ‘Securing the Sovereign Frontier: Strategic Defence Architecture, Emerging Technologies  and Democratic Integrity in Nigeria.’

Welcoming guests, the Founder and Saban Media Services, who is also the Special Assistant (Media) to the Defence Minister, Mrs Leah Katung-Babatunde, said the characterisation of the ‘sovereign frontier’ has undergone a shift from being primarily defined by physical borders, terrain, and kinetic force, and stretches into “the digital domain, across automated systems, satellite networks, algorithmic landscapes, and the information ecosystems that sustain civic trust”.

Curtain Raiser

Declaring the theme of the 2026 Policy Colloquium as strategic, aimed at serving an urgent call to action and focused on engendering collaboration, Katung-Babatunde said the theme of the 2nd edition of the colloquium serves to focus on the three interconnected pillars that have the potential of shaping Nigeria’s security and stability for both the present and the future.

Describing Strategic Defence, Emerging Technologies and Democratic Integrity, Mrs Katung-Babatunde declared that the colloquium “was conceived to serve as a rigorous, non-partisan bridge—bringing together defence strategists, policy architects, technologists, civil society leaders, academics, the media and key state actors under one roof. We are not assembled here today merely to catalogue challenges, but to forge actionable pathways, inform public policy, and construct a practical blueprint for national resilience.”

The defence Minister, while welcoming guests at the 2nd Policy Colloquium 2026, said the present security environment requires “renewed strategic thinking, institutional adaptation and sustained national commitment. The complexity and changing character of contemporary threats require us to continually reassess our capabilities, strengthen our preparedness and remain ahead of developments that could affect our national interests.”

Affirming the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in securing the sovereignty of the country, Musa reiterated the commitment of the Ministry of Defence to “strengthening defence capabilities, advancing military modernisation and ensuring that the Armed Forces are adequately positioned to respond to the demands of the security environment”. He noted that the current security ecosystem in Nigeria is being confronted with challenges that cut across Nigeria, maintaining that the only solution to resolving these problems is through the adoption of an integrated “defence posture, supported by effective intelligence coordination, joint operations and interoperability across the Armed Forces and other relevant security institutions.

Setting the Tone

Professor Ladan, who delivered the keynote address, spoke on Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) that declares that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.” This constitutional clause, according to Ladan, “serves as the foundational, non-negotiable social contract between the Nigerian state and its citizens. To realise this social contract, the guest speaker noted, the need to “frame security, not merely as a kinetic military endeavour, but as the bedrock of constitutional survival, institutional stability, and public trust, is imperative.

Nigeria’s strategic defence architecture, Prof Ladan noted, must go “beyond isolated, single-service responses toward a synchronised, inter-agency framework. New measures must include “merging physical readiness with sophisticated, technology-driven defensive capabilities.” The keynote speaker pointed out that such a transition must occur within a legal framework and through institutional transparency to avoid weakening democratic integrity, the rule of law, and people’s civil liberties. Redefining sovereign borders “beyond physical landmass and maritime zones into cyberspace, critical national infrastructure, and information ecosystems”, Ladan said that “securing modern frontiers requires integrated domain awareness that preempts asymmetric threats before they penetrate institutional stability, disrupt civic life, or compromise national data assets”.

He harped on the need for the country to move away from isolated, single-service responses and embrace a unified defence strategy that aligns “tactical military operations with legal, intelligence-sharing, and localised, community-driven security protocols to counter multi-dimensional and unconventional security threats.” He called on the military to swiftly adopt and deploy “indigenous innovation, artificial intelligence, unmanned aerial surveillance, and secure communication hardware”.

On preserving the integrity of democracy, the keynote speaker said new security measures must include countering disinformation campaigns, and surveillance efforts must be carried out in line with civil liberties and constitutional safeguards through transparent governance.

Though Nigeria presently stands at a crossroads, Ladan said modern regulatory instruments and global frameworks offer timely lessons on what to do. The localisation of defence industrial capacity through the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Act 2023 offers a legal mechanism to engender a domestic defence-industrial complex through prioritisation of public-private partnerships, Nigeria to incentivise indigenous innovations in uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) and biometric tracking systems, and encrypted tactical communications hardware, among others.

Calling for a unified Cyber-Defence framework, the deployment of the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy (NCPS), and the enforcement mechanisms of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act 2024 offers Nigeria the statutory foundation to build an integrated cyber command. The AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade offers immense economic and strategic prospects, allowing Nigeria to position its tech sector as a regional hub for secure software, dual-use technologies, and secure cloud infrastructure.

Bright Prospects Amidst Challenges

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Hon Mohammed Idris, represented by the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu, assured Nigerians that the Tinubu-led administration was leaving no stone unturned to secure the country. Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Sunday Dare, said the colloquium was timely and provided a platform for discussions. Amid security challenges in some parts of the nation, the event offered experts and scholars a platform to assess current challenges and chart a path to a more secure future.