Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to developing indigenous technological capacity as part of efforts to strengthen national security and improve the skills of its personnel.
General Shaibu made this known during a courtesy visit to the headquarters of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) in Abuja.
The Army Chief said Nigeria must invest more in local expertise in unmanned aerial systems and drone technology to effectively tackle terrorism, insurgency, banditry and other security threats facing the country.
He noted that building homegrown technological capacity would reduce dependence on foreign military training and position Nigeria to develop its own defence solutions.
The COAS praised the PTDF for its long-standing investment in human capacity development and requested specialised training for Nigerian Army personnel in drone technology.
“This will help us establish indigenous companies for the development of unmanned aerial systems and reduce reliance on foreign military training,” the COAS said.
General Shaibu also appreciated the Fund for its continued support to Command Secondary Schools, describing the partnership as an important contribution to the education and development of military families.
Responding, the Executive Secretary of the PTDF, Professor Shuaibu Shehu Aliyu, commended the Nigerian Army for its sacrifices in protecting the country’s territorial integrity and ensuring national stability.
He said the PTDF would continue to strengthen its collaboration with the military through capacity-building programmes.
Professor Aliyu disclosed that the Fund is already supporting the Nigerian Defence Academy through its In-Country Scholarship Scheme and announced plans to establish a modern Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centre at the proposed Command Science Secondary School in Kaduna.
According to him, the ICT facility will provide digital skills training for students and contribute to developing the next generation of technology professionals.
The PTDF boss also appealed to the Nigerian Army to support the protection of the Fund’s strategic national assets and its regional centres of excellence located in Kaduna and Afam.
He proposed the establishment of a formal security framework between the PTDF and the Nigerian Army to guarantee rapid emergency response and improve the safety of staff, students and critical infrastructure.
The renewed collaboration between the Nigerian Army and the PTDF reflects the growing emphasis on combining technology, education and strategic partnerships to strengthen Nigeria’s defence capabilities.
Experts believe that increasing local capacity in drone technology and digital innovation will not only improve military operations but also reduce dependence on foreign expertise while supporting the growth of Nigeria’s defence industry.
