Sowore defence reform proposal calls for scrapping the Defence Minister role and investing heavily in drones to tackle Nigeria’s insecurity
Former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has proposed a sweeping overhaul of Nigeria’s defence strategy, saying he would abolish the position of Minister of Defence and prioritise drone technology if elected president.
Also read: Court rejects bail for Bauchi Commissioner in terrorism case
Omoyele Sowore made the proposal on Monday while speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, where he criticised existing military procurement processes and described Nigeria’s defence bureaucracy as inefficient and outdated.
The activist argued that unmanned aerial vehicles offer a more effective and cost-efficient response to insecurity than conventional military hardware.
“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. They are pretty expensive, but they are more effective,” Sowore said.
He explained that drones could significantly improve surveillance and response times in cases of kidnapping, banditry and other security threats.
According to him, a small team of operators could manage multiple drones capable of covering wide areas within minutes, allowing security agencies to track suspects and coordinate ground operations more efficiently.
Sowore said some commercially available drones costing about $2,000 could cover a four-kilometre radius in under 20 minutes, arguing that deploying such technology across states would strengthen early detection and response.
“If you buy a hundred of them for a state, you will be doing a marvellous job,” he added, underscoring what he described as the strong cost-benefit advantage.
Nigeria continues to face widespread insecurity, including Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West and frequent kidnappings across several regions.
While the federal government has expanded aerial surveillance and air force operations in recent years, critics say bureaucratic delays, maintenance challenges and corruption reduce their impact.
Drawing from global conflicts, Sowore pointed to recent developments in aerial warfare, arguing that advances in drone technology are reshaping modern defence strategies.
He said reliance on expensive fighter jets that require years of training and complex logistics was no longer sustainable.
“So if you’re still buying some fancy fighter jets that you have to train people for five years to use, you’re wasting your time,” Sowore said.
He concluded by restating his position that Nigeria’s defence leadership structure should be radically simplified.
Also read: Court rejects bail for Bauchi Commissioner in terrorism case
“That’s why I said somewhere, if I’m president of Nigeria, I won’t have a minister of defence. My minister of defence would be a drone,” he added.
