Defence Minister Urges Students to Support National Security, Pushes Local Defence Production

Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa, has called on Nigerian students to play an active role in strengthening national security, saying peace and unity are a collective responsibility.

Musa made the appeal while receiving students from the Department of Political Science and Diplomacy at Veritas University, Abuja, during an educational visit to the Ministry of Defence.

He urged the students, as young citizens and future leaders, to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities in their communities as part of efforts to tackle insecurity.

The minister also outlined steps the Federal Government is taking to reinforce the country’s security framework, including working with other ministries to close technological gaps and support food security initiatives.

On defence production, Musa said skilled Nigerians are being engaged through the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria to support local manufacturing of military equipment, including drones. He noted that domestic production is growing in importance due to difficulties in sourcing weapons from abroad.

He further highlighted Nigeria’s defence partnership with Turkey, saying the collaboration will boost counterterrorism efforts through shared expertise and technology.

Musa advised students to steer clear of cybercrime and instead apply their skills to productive and innovative ventures. He also backed wider access to military training, describing it as valuable for building discipline and resilience.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Richard Pheelangwah, said the visit was designed to give students practical insight into Nigeria’s defence system and potential career opportunities in the security sector.

He said the engagement was part of efforts to bridge academic learning with real-world understanding of national institutions and their role in maintaining peace and stability.