The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, has declared that Nigeria lacks the technological capability to develop and produce military equipment for the sustainable development of the country
This was even as the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE) has declared that its members have a role to play towards the security of lives and property in the country as the drivers of technology and innovations.
Irabor spoke in Abuja at the 2023 Annual Public Lecture of the NSE, Bwari Branch, which was held with the theme, “National Security as a Panacea for Sustainable Economic Growth: The Role of Engineers”.
Irabor, who was represented by the Director, Engineering Services, Defence Headquarters, Maj. Gen. Gat Ochigbano, urged the NSE to deepen its partnership with the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.
He said: “To this effect, engineers and researchers could focus attention on training and R&D in critical areas of defence such as missile design, military vehicle engineering, marine architecture etc.
“Thus, low investment in R&D is a constraint that hinders the utilisation of ETI for production of defence equipment towards enhancing national security in Nigeria.
“Nigeria lacks the technological capability to develop and produce her military equipment. It is a generally held belief that the lack of iron and steel has prevented Nigeria from manufacturing ships, cars and airplanes. The advancements in material science have presented alternatives for the same purpose.”
He noted that poor investment on R&D has made it difficult for Nigeria to perform excellently in technological innovation and industrialisation, adding that the Armed Forces depend largely on foreign countries for arms and military materials.
Delivering his keynote address, the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, noted that most security gadgets and equipment used by security agents in the country were imported.
