The Sokoto State Government has pledged to strengthen security partnerships, invest in modern defence technologies and support indigenous security solutions to tackle terrorism, banditry and other security threats confronting the state and the North-West region.

The Governor’s Special Adviser on Security Matters, retired Colonel Ahmed Usman, disclosed this while representing Governor Ahmed Aliyu at the opening ceremony of the Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) 2026, held at Eko Atlantic, Lagos.

Usman said addressing Nigeria’s growing security challenges required stronger collaboration among governments, security agencies, defence manufacturers and technology providers.

In a statement made available to journalists in Sokoto on Tuesday, he described AFRIDEX 2026 as an important platform for promoting technological innovation, local defence production and strategic cooperation towards strengthening Africa’s collective security architecture.

He stressed the need for African countries to invest in indigenous research, local manufacturing and technological advancement rather than depend entirely on foreign sources for critical defence equipment and technologies.

According to him, effective security management goes beyond deploying military personnel and hardware, requiring improved intelligence gathering, surveillance systems, modern communication equipment, capacity building and inter-agency cooperation.

The security adviser further stated that the Sokoto State Government remained committed to supporting security agencies, strengthening community-based security initiatives and providing operational resources to complement Federal Government efforts to restore peace and protect lives and property.

He expressed optimism that the exhibition would create opportunities for partnerships between Nigeria’s defence industry and international technology providers, particularly in intelligence gathering, equipment manufacturing, border surveillance and unmanned systems.

Usman also commended the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria for organising the exhibition, describing it as an important step towards positioning Nigeria as a major contributor to Africa’s defence and security industry.

AFRIDEX 2026, which held from October 26 to 29 at Eko Atlantic, Lagos, brought together local and international stakeholders to showcase emerging defence technologies, promote indigenous industrial capacity and strengthen cooperation among African countries and their international partners.

The exhibition was officially declared open on behalf of President Bola Tinubu by the President of the Senate, who attended as Special Guest of Honour.

The ceremony attracted senior government officials and security stakeholders, including the Chief of Defence Staff, service chiefs, defence ministers, senior military officers and the President of the ECOWAS Commission.

The Sokoto State Government reiterated its commitment to adopting innovative security solutions and strategic partnerships to promote lasting peace, stability and sustainable development.