General Christopher Musa: CDS Declares Nigeria Poised To Dominate Africa’s Military Landscape.
By Helen Udo, Outlook Media ABUJA.
In a bold declaration during an interview on Politics Today on Channels TV, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, unveiled Nigeria’s remarkable strides in military innovation and self-reliance.
Speaking with confidence, the CDS detailed how years of battling insurgency and terrorism have transformed the nation’s military into a beacon of ingenuity and resilience on the African continent.
“What this 16 years war has done for us is that it has enabled us to build the capacity of our engineers and mechanics,” General Musa revealed. “Now, we can pick up completely burnt Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPs), fix them, and put them back into warfare.”
Highlighting the achievements of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and private companies like Proforce, the CDS noted that Nigeria is now manufacturing MRAPs and Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) locally.
He also praised the signing of the DICON Act by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which allows partnerships with global original equipment manufacturers to establish production bases in Nigeria.
“Now we are producing our own weapons, MRAPs, and APCs. This will significantly reduce our dependence on foreign suppliers and make a substantial difference in our operations,” General Musa added.
Despite the progress, General Musa acknowledged challenges, including recent civilian casualties in Zamfara and Sokoto States caused by secondary explosions during military airstrikes.
He emphasized that the military is working to enhance its strategies to minimize such incidents while warning that any citizen providing logistical support to terrorists would be treated as a legitimate target.
The Defence Chief also pushed back against allegations of forced abortions leveled by some international organizations, describing them as baseless and malicious. “These organizations must publicly apologize for their false accusations. Their intent is to demoralize our troops and tarnish our progress,” he stated, adding that the military would pursue legal action to clear its name.
Reflecting on the persistence of terrorism, General Musa described it as an ideological war deeply rooted in communities. “Terrorists are seen as enemies by the military but as sons and brothers by their families. This makes the fight complex,” he explained, urging communities to collaborate with security forces to isolate and defeat these groups.
As Nigeria continues its journey toward self-sufficiency in military hardware and strategic innovation, General Musa expressed optimism about the nation’s future, stating, “In a few years, Nigeria will be a superpower in military hardware production.”
The CDS’s revelations on Politics Today underscore a transformative chapter in Nigeria’s military history, positioning the country as a rising force in Africa’s security and defense landscape.