Chief of Defence Urges Border Synergy, Indigenous Arms Production

By Zainab Uzomah| Abuja

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, has emphasised the need for stronger border cooperation and indigenous defence production as key elements of the country’s evolving security strategy.

According to a statement signed by Major General Samaila Uba, Director of Defence Information, the CDS made the remarks on Tuesday while delivering his closing address at the inaugural lecture of the Joint Doctrine and Warfare Centre.

General Oluyede said the armed forces are intensifying efforts to boost local defence manufacturing through the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria and other domestic partners, as part of a drive towards self-reliance.

He also highlighted the importance of border security to Nigeria’s internal stability, stressing theneed for sustained collaboration with neighbouring countries to address cross-border threats.

The defence chief underscored the importance of joint operations, noting that no single service can effectively tackle modern security challenges alone, and called for greater synergy among the services.

He added that outcomes from the inaugural lecture would be presented to the Federal Executive Council and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to secure broader support for implementation.

The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (retd), who attended as Special Guest of Honour, also stressed the importance of synergy, describing Nigeria’s security framework as a “whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.”

He said the Joint Doctrine and Warfare Centre, established in July 2025, serves as a platform forintegrating the capabilities of the armed forces to achieve operational effectiveness.

Earlier, the Director General of the centre, Major General AE Edet, outlined progress made since its establishment and reaffirmed its commitment to advancing innovation and joint military thinking.

The event was attended by service chiefs, former defence chiefs, senior military officers, members of the diplomatic community and other stakeholders.