Cynthia Ezegwu
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has called on the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) to deepen bilateral and multilateral partnerships to strengthen Nigeria’s adaptive intelligence framework amid rising and increasingly complex security threats.
Akpabio made the call on Monday in Abuja during the opening of the Chief of Defence Intelligence Annual Conference 2025, themed “The Role of Multi-Source Intelligence Innovation in National Security.” He was represented by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Ahmad Lawan.
He said global security realities now demand stronger cooperation among intelligence institutions, enhanced information sharing and the deployment of emerging technologies to counter sophisticated threats. According to him, modern national security strategies rely on multi-source intelligence systems that integrate human intelligence, signals intelligence, open-source data, geospatial tools and cyber intelligence to generate real-time, actionable insights.
The Senate President noted that the DIA has remained pivotal to Nigeria’s efforts to build a more resilient intelligence architecture through improved data integration, interagency collaboration and technological innovation.
He commended the agency for expanding the scope of this year’s conference to include joint presentations by Defence Advisers, Defence Attachés and State Office Coordinators, describing the approach as a strategic blend of domestic and international intelligence perspectives.
“As threats evolve, so must our capacity to collect, process and interpret information across multiple domains in real time,” Akpabio said.
He emphasised the importance of the Defence Attaché System in strengthening defence diplomacy, while noting that state intelligence offices play a critical role in providing ground-level insights needed to counter emerging threats. He urged Defence Attachés to intensify engagements with host countries and encouraged state coordinators to deepen collaboration with local security agencies to enhance intelligence gathering and utilisation.
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Akpabio further encouraged participants to explore the possibilities offered by artificial intelligence, machine learning and advanced data analytics in modern intelligence operations, stressing that innovation is crucial to staying ahead of adversaries who increasingly exploit technology.
He commended the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lt.-Gen. Emmanuel Undiandeye, for his leadership and commitment to reforming Nigeria’s intelligence framework, and praised the contributions of Defence Advisers, Defence Attachés and state intelligence personnel.
“Our success in defending Nigeria depends on our ability to anticipate threats, connect information across domains and act decisively on informed insights,” he added.