Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja, Nigeria — Omoyele Sowore, Nigerian activist, former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) and publisher of Sahara Reporters, has called for a radical rethinking of Nigeria’s defence strategy, advocating for the elimination of the traditional Minister of Defence portfolio in favour of a defence approach centred on drone technology and unmanned systems. Sowore outlined his proposals during a recent appearance on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, setting out a vision aimed at confronting the country’s persistent insecurity challenges through modern technology.
Sowore, who contested Nigeria’s presidency in the 2019 and 2023 elections, argued that the current defence structure — with its reliance on costly aircraft, heavy bureaucracy and traditional military assets — is outdated and inefficient when addressing the complex array of security threats facing Nigeria, including kidnapping, banditry and insurgency. Instead, he suggested that a defence framework focused on unmanned aerial systems would be more effective, responsive and cost-efficient.
“If I’m president of Nigeria, I’m not buying any jet anymore. I’m buying unmanned aerial vehicles. I want to invest in drones,” Sowore said, emphasising that such technology offers significant tactical advantages over conventional military hardware. He highlighted that drones can perform surveillance and response missions across vast areas with fewer personnel, providing real-time intelligence and tracking capabilities that would strengthen internal security operations.
Sowore went further in framing drones as central to his proposed defence philosophy, stating that in his view the role of a Defence Minister could be replaced by an integrated drone-centric command responsible for monitoring and responding to threats. “If I have ten unmanned drones and I have operators, and I hear there is a kidnapper walking in the bush, I can use that drone to at least track them for a while until the police can then conduct their cordon,” he explained.
His comments build on long-standing criticism from some civil society figures that Nigeria’s security architecture remains overly reliant on conventional force structures and that technological innovation has been underutilised in countering insurgency and criminal networks. Sowore argued that drones are more cost-effective and adaptable than fighter jets or manned aircraft, which require extensive training, maintenance infrastructure and logistical support.
While Nigeria’s security forces already deploy some unmanned aerial systems as part of counter-terrorism and reconnaissance operations, Sowore’s proposals extend beyond current practice, calling for a comprehensive defence transformation. He pointed to global trends in warfare where unmanned systems have diminished the relevance of traditional air power, suggesting that Nigeria could follow a similar path to achieve more surgical and technology-driven responses against armed groups.
Security analysts note that modern insurgent and criminal groups have increasingly used technology and improvised tactics to evade conventional military responses, and that drones can provide a valuable force multiplier in surveillance, early warning, and targeted strikes. However, they also caution that effective drone implementation would require robust regulatory frameworks, investment in training and maintenance capacity, and strong intelligence networks to ensure the technology is used responsibly and ethically.
Sowore’s call to scrap the Defence Minister position in favour of a drone-led defence opens a broader conversation about the future of Nigeria’s security strategy, especially at a time when the country continues to grapple with multiple fronts of insecurity, including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) insurgencies in the northeast, banditry in the northwest, and kidnappings and communal violence across the middle belt and south.
Critics of Sowore’s proposals argue that while drones can enhance surveillance and rapid response, they cannot wholly supplant the institutional leadership, coordination and policymaking roles that a Defence Minister and traditional defence structures provide. They contend that strategic leadership, legislative oversight and inter-service coordination remain essential for any holistic defence posture.
Sowore’s comments reflect his broader advocacy for systemic reform in Nigeria’s governance and security sectors. Whether his drone-focused defence vision gains traction in political or policy circles remains uncertain, but the debate underscores growing interest in how emerging technologies might be harnessed to address longstanding security challenges.
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