By Sumaila Ogbaje
The Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) has reiterated its commitment to harness technology to enhance national security.
The Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), Lt.-Gen. Emmanuel Undiandeye, made this known in Abuja at the opening of the 2025 Chief of Defence Intelligence Annual Conference.
The theme of the conference is: “Multi-source Intelligence Innovation in a Challenging National Security Ecosystem”.
The CDI conference is a gathering of defence advisers, attachés, regional directors and state coordinators to review Nigeria’s evolving security environment.
He said the theme of the conference underscored the need to deepen the integration of multiple intelligence sources, human, signals, cyber, open-source and imagery, to enhance situational awareness and support national decision-making.
According to him, Nigeria’s security challenges remain dynamic, with insurgency, terrorism, banditry, cybercrime and organised criminal networks continually adapting their tactics.
This, he said, required the intelligence community to match their sophistication through innovation and technology-driven solutions.
“We are becoming more intentional in our efforts to harness the capabilities of technology and human intelligence towards achieving our national security objectives,” he said.
The CDI announced that the DIA had commenced the establishment of the Defence Intelligence Agency Technology Centre (DIATC), which will serve as a cutting-edge hub for cyber security, artificial intelligence, robotics, machine learning and data analytics.
He said the centre would enhance Nigeria’s intelligence-gathering capacity by enabling the agency to target adversary networks, penetrate the deep and dark web and expose the activities of terrorists and criminal organisations.
Undiandeye said leveraging innovations in data analytics, artificial intelligence and interagency information-sharing would allow the country to build a unified national intelligence framework capable of supporting both strategic and operational-level decisions.
He noted that the DIA was also digitising its intelligence processes, enhancing cyber and special intelligence capabilities and strengthening collaboration with other security and law enforcement agencies.
The CDI emphasised that modern security threats were not limited to traditional warfare, but also included transnational organised crime, cyber threats and misinformation.
He said meeting these challenges required not only technological improvements but also human capacity development and institutional reforms.
He commended Nigeria’s defence advisers and attachés for their role in advancing intelligence diplomacy, strengthening partnerships with allied nations and supporting Nigeria’s strategic interests abroad.
Undiandeye also expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, the service chiefs, the National Security Adviser and the National Assembly for their continued support to the Defence Intelligence Agency.
He urged participants at the conference to develop innovative practices that would enhance the country’s intelligence posture and help secure national interests. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Sadiya Hamza
