By Nkechi Eze
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has urged the Nigerian Army to move beyond using data primarily for record-keeping and begin leveraging it as a strategic resource for intelligence gathering, operational planning and decision-making.
The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, gave the charge while delivering a keynote presentation titled, “From Data to Decision Advantage: Digital Transformation, Artificial Intelligence, and the Future of Warfare,” at the Data Management and Record-Keeping Seminar organised by the Army Headquarters Department of Military Secretary in Abuja.
Abdullahi said the growing influence of technology on modern warfare had made effective data management and analysis critical to maintaining military advantage, stressing that properly processed data could provide actionable intelligence for tactical and strategic operations.
He urged the Army to rethink its approach to data management by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its processes for collating, analysing, verifying and applying information to military operations.
“Globally, the defence industry is changing due to the disruptive power of technology. So we need to look beyond just using data for record-keeping to start thinking of using data management for intelligence and strategic military operations,” he said.
According to him, AI could be deployed to transform large volumes of data into strategic and tactical information capable of improving the speed, accuracy and effectiveness of decisions at both command and battlefield levels.
“Today, we can use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help us collate, analyse, verify, and apply data in our military operations. We can integrate AI to help transform data into strategic and tactical information for decision-making,” Abdullahi said.
The NITDA DG also called for the broader adoption of emerging technologies across the military’s security and defence operations, describing digital transformation as a critical component of national defence readiness rather than merely an upgrade to existing systems.
He said successful digital transformation required simultaneous attention to people, processes and technology, urging military authorities to develop institutional frameworks that would enable personnel to effectively deploy emerging technologies.
“So, it is important to rethink the way we use technology to transform our institutions. To transform an organisation, you need to take cognisance of the people, the process, and the proper technology to adopt,” he said.
Abdullahi further challenged the Nigerian military to develop dedicated digital infrastructure and data centres capable of supporting defence operations, noting that stronger indigenous technological capacity would reduce dependence on external solutions.
He advocated collaboration between the military, government institutions and Nigeria’s indigenous technology ecosystem to develop locally relevant defence technologies.
“The Nigerian Army has to consider ways of collaborating with other government agencies and the indigenous tech innovation ecosystem to build defence technology that can help us defend our nation,” he said.
On manpower development, the NITDA DG stressed the importance of equipping military personnel with advanced digital competencies to enable them to fully exploit data analytics, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
He announced that NITDA would provide training and capacity-building programmes for military personnel to strengthen their digital skills and prepare them for an increasingly data- and AI-driven defence environment.
Abdullahi said the initiative formed part of NITDA’s commitment to supporting national security through technology and ensuring that Nigeria’s security institutions were better positioned to harness digital innovation for intelligence, operational effectiveness and strategic decision-making.
