The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, has stressed the urgent need for the military to embrace homegrown technology and innovation to strengthen national security.

Nigeria has long depended on foreign countries for military hardware, spare parts, and technical expertise, often facing delays and vulnerabilities in times of crisis.

Over the years, security experts have warned that such dependence undermines operational readiness and compromises sovereignty.

Speaking at the Nigerian Navy Seminar on Research and Development in Abuja on Thursday, Ogalla, who was represented by the Chief of Communication and Information Technology (Navy), Rear Admiral Hamza Kaoje, warned that the Navy must not remain a passive consumer of foreign technology, but should position itself as a co-creator and regional leader in naval innovation.

Ogalla said, “Our long-term security demands solutions developed by Nigerian minds, tailored to Nigerian realities, and manufactured by Nigerian industries. This is not about prestige; it is a matter of strategic necessity.

“From Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Analytics to Unmanned Surface and Underwater Vehicles, Cyber Warfare capabilities, and Satellite Surveillance Systems, effective maritime security now demands the seamless integration of smart systems and real-time information.

“Accordingly, the NN must not remain a passive consumer of foreign technology. We must position ourselves as co-creators, innovators, and ultimately, regional leaders in naval technological advancement.

“Let me state unequivocally that our operational effectiveness will increasingly depend on how well we embrace, adapt, and integrate emerging technologies into our doctrines, platforms, and institutional culture. It is within this context that I emphasise the urgent need for self-sustainability in our research and development (R&D) ecosystem.”

The Naval Chief listed radars, navigation systems, drones, secure communications equipment, and surveillance platforms as areas where local research and production must be accelerated.

He also called for stronger frameworks in domestic shipbuilding, retrofitting of legacy platforms using local expertise, and the establishment of technology incubation hubs in partnership with the private sector.

While commending progress already made through the Naval Dockyard Limited and Naval Shipyard Limited, Ogalla said more coordinated and deliberate efforts were needed to ensure self-reliance in defence technology.

He further warned that maritime security would only be won by superior innovation and adoption of technology, rather than numerical strength.

“The battle for maritime security and dominance will no longer be won by numerical superiority alone. Rather, our success will depend on superior innovation, intelligence, adaptability, and technological sophistication,” Ogalla said.

Earlier, the Chief Transformation (Navy), Rear Admiral Monday Unurhiere, said the impact of technological advancement on military operations was well documented and would remain topical for as long as conflicts persist in human society.

Unurhiere said technology had consistently shaped the outcomes of battles in favour of those who effectively harnessed it.

He added that the seminar was most appropriate, coming at a time when the Armed Forces of Nigeria were committed to eliminating the diverse threats to national security.

According to him, the two-day seminar is part of the Navy’s ongoing efforts to deepen its research ecosystem and accelerate the integration of emerging technologies into its operational doctrine.

In his lecture, AVM Osichinaka Ubadike, a professor of Aerospace Engineering, called for concerted efforts by the Nigerian Navy to enhance its ingenuity in UAV technology to aid maritime operations.

Ubadike said the place of research, development, and innovation could not be overlooked in modern-day warfare.

He emphasised the need for more local initiatives and innovation, while urging the services to look inwards and encourage technology transfer. (PUNCH)