Major General Olufemi Oluyede has urged the creation of a local defence industry and reform of the police.
He said reducing foreign dependence will strengthen Nigeria’s security and military capacity.
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff-designate, Major General Olufemi Oluyede, has called for the establishment of a local defence industry and a complete reform of the Nigeria Police Force to strengthen the nation’s security system.
Speaking during his screening by the Senate on Wednesday, Oluyede said Nigeria’s heavy dependence on foreign countries for military hardware was unsustainable and costly.
“For Nigeria to move forward, it is imperative that we develop our own local military industrial complex,” he said. “We can’t keep buying equipment from outside because these things are extremely expensive.”
He explained that insecurity in the country has grown more complex, now including terrorism, banditry, cyberattacks, and misinformation. According to him, addressing these threats requires collaboration among all sectors, not just the military.
“It requires a whole-of-society approach. Everybody must be involved. It shouldn’t be left to the military alone,” he added.
Oluyede also stressed that many of the internal security duties currently handled by soldiers should rightly be performed by the police. He urged the government to empower and reform the police to make them more effective.
“It’s important for the nation to empower the police, make it stronger and more formidable, so that they can do their job while we focus on defending Nigeria against external aggression,” he said.
The Defence Chief-designate further highlighted the need to improve the welfare of military personnel, noting that being a soldier requires courage and selflessness.
“There’s something special about being a soldier. It entails sacrificing your life for others to live,” he said.
Oluyede admitted that limited resources had slowed efforts to improve the well-being of troops and their families but pledged to prioritize their welfare if confirmed.
Following his presentation, the Senate unanimously confirmed his appointment after a motion by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, who recalled that Oluyede was previously screened for the position of Chief of Army Staff following the death of Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja.
