ABUJA – A defence and security professional, Dr Zulaykhah Aileru, has urged Nigeria to prioritise domestic defence production in order to reduce reliance on foreign military equipment and strengthen national security capability.
Aileru, a Public Safety and Certified Protection Professional, made the call on Monday in Abuja, while examining Nigeria’s defence spending.
She noted that Nigeria’s defence expenditure had increased significantly in recent years, reaching about 4.47 billion dollars in 2021 during intensified counter-insurgency operations.
According to her, the Federal Government also allocated about ₦4.9 trillion to defence and security in the 2025 budget, highlighting the strategic importance of national security.
She said that in spite of the rising investment, Nigeria still relied heavily on imported military platforms, technologies and maintenance systems.
Aileru said sustainable national security required more than procurement, stressing that Nigeria must build the capability to design, maintain and improve defence systems locally.
She added that defence industrialisation would not only strengthen security sovereignty but also stimulate technological advancement and industrial development. (NAN)
