Nigeria’s Defence Minister Blames Israel‑Iran and Russia‑Ukraine Conflicts for Arms Shortage

Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, rtd, blamed the country’s and other nations’ difficulty in acquiring military equipment on the ongoing conflicts involving Israel, Iran, the United States, Russia and Ukraine.

General Musa also criticized the lack of a comprehensive national database, arguing that it hampers security agencies—especially the police—in tracking criminals and preventing crime.

The remarks were made on Saturday during a keynote address at the Nigerian People’s Strategic Conference and Defence Exhibition 2026 in Abuja.

He said that global wars have disrupted access to military hardware, underscoring the need for Nigeria to boost local defence production.

“With the war in Ukraine, Russia, Iran, the U.S. and Israel, it’s been extremely difficult getting equipment,” he said. “Because most times, they do down payment because they have the money and they produce most of these items. So even when you go to get, they have booked for them, and so it’s difficult. The only solution is for us to produce what we need,” he added.

General Musa urged the National Assembly to back the creation of a comprehensive database for Nigerians, describing it as essential for effective policing and national security.