The Nigerian Army (NA) has announced its intention to strengthen its partnerships with the Defence Research and Development Bureau (DRDB) and the Defence Space Administration (DSA) to bolster NA operations and maintain a robust presence in the realm of cybersecurity.
Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), made this announcement on Thursday, September 7, 2023, during separate meetings held at the Army Headquarters in Abuja. These meetings were with Major General Emmanuel Ndagi, the Director General of DRDB, and Air Vice Marshal Abdullahi Shinkafi, the Chief of Defence Space Administration.
General Lagbaja acknowledged the significant role of DRDB in coordinating research and development efforts for the Armed Forces of Nigeria. He expressed the NA’s commitment to partnering with the Bureau to sustain ongoing research and development initiatives focused on countering Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
This collaboration aims to save lives and protect equipment in the field. General Lagbaja emphasized that enhancing the operational efficiency of troops is crucial for the NA to fulfill its constitutional responsibilities in defending Nigeria’s territorial integrity. He noted that partnering with DRDB would provide the necessary platform for the army to leverage cutting-edge technologies, strategies, and practices to enhance its operations.
Major General Emmanuel Ndagi, the DG of DRDB, highlighted the purpose of his visit, which was to strengthen collaboration with the NA. He emphasized that the Bureau’s overarching mandate is to coordinate research and development activities within the Armed Forces, with a strong emphasis on developing indigenous technological capabilities.
Additionally, General Lagbaja met with Air Vice Marshal Ahmed Shinkafi, the Chief of Defence Space Administration, during which he expressed appreciation for the DSA’s support in providing space and cybersecurity assistance to the NA and other Services. General Lagbaja underlined the increasing significance of the space and cyber domains in modern warfare and stressed the importance of the NA developing the necessary competencies to defend against potential cyber threats and attacks.
He assured the DSA of the NA’s commitment to ongoing collaboration to ensure an effective presence in the cyber domain, with the intention of extending DSA’s products to NA formations and units to facilitate land operations.
Air Vice Marshal Ahmed Shinkafi, the Chief of Defence Space Administration, commended the Nigerian Army for its support in infrastructure development and cyber warfare initiatives at the DSA.
