Nigerian Defence Staff Orders AI and Advanced Surveillance Adoption to Counter Security Threats

Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, directed the armed forces to deploy artificial intelligence and advanced surveillance technologies in response to the country’s evolving security challenges. The directive follows growing concerns over insurgency, terrorism, and other asymmetric threats that outpace conventional military capabilities. By integrating AI-driven analytics, facial recognition, and predictive modeling, the military aims to enhance situational awareness, target identification, and rapid decision‑making across its units. The order signals a shift toward technology‑centric operations, with the armed forces expected to begin procurement, training, and field testing of AI systems in the coming months. The move is part of a broader strategy to modernize Nigeria’s defense posture and improve operational effectiveness against complex security threats.