Defence Minister Blames Israel-Iran, Russia-Ukraine Wars for Arms Shortage

Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has said ongoing conflicts involving Israel, Iran, the United States, Russia and Ukraine are making it increasingly difficult for Nigeria and other countries to acquire military equipment needed to combat insecurity.

Speaking on Saturday at the Nigerian People’s Strategic Conference and Defence Exhibition 2026 in Abuja, Musa said the global demand for military hardware has significantly affected supply chains, leaving many nations struggling to procure essential defence equipment.

According to the minister, countries directly involved in the conflicts are placing large advance orders for military supplies, making it difficult for other nations to access the same equipment.

“With the war in Ukraine, Russia, Iran, the U.S. and Israel, it’s been extremely difficult getting equipment. Most times they make down payments because they have the money and they produce most of these items. Even when you go to buy, they have already been booked for them,” he said.

Musa stressed that the situation highlights the urgent need for Nigeria to strengthen local defence manufacturing and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers. He commended indigenous defence manufacturers and innovators while calling for greater government support and patronage of locally produced military hardware.

The minister also identified the absence of a comprehensive national database as a major obstacle to effective security operations. He urged the National Assembly to support efforts to establish a database covering all Nigerians, arguing that such a system would significantly improve intelligence gathering and crime tracking.

“I want to appeal to the National Assembly on the issue of a database. We must develop a database for every Nigerian. It will make the work of security agencies much easier,” he stated.

Musa praised the Nigeria Police Force for its performance despite operating without a centralised database, describing some of its achievements as remarkable under difficult circumstances.

He further called on citizens to provide timely information to security agencies, insisting that intelligence from communities remains critical in the fight against crime and terrorism.

The minister also urged state governors to ensure that increased federal allocations translate into meaningful development at the grassroots, noting that poverty, unemployment and illiteracy remain major drivers of insecurity.

He warned against arming unregulated community security groups and advocated proper oversight of local vigilante organisations to prevent further security challenges across the country.