Former presidential candidate and activist Omoyele Sowore has said drone technology would play a major role in Nigeria’s security system if he becomes president, arguing that modern warfare requires advanced intelligence and surveillance tools rather than conventional political leadership structures.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News, Sowore stated that insecurity across Nigeria can only be tackled effectively through coordinated military operations supported by technology, intelligence gathering, and real-time monitoring systems.
The African Action Congress (AAC) chieftain drew attention after declaring that drones would effectively become his “Minister of Defence” if elected president. According to him, unmanned aerial technology would provide faster and more effective responses to terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other security threats facing the country.
Sowore said Nigeria must immediately confront insecurity by aggressively pursuing criminal groups with the support of modern equipment and surveillance systems. He added that security agencies must shift their focus toward protecting citizens instead of engaging in politically motivated actions or what he described as “trivial arrests.”
“Short-term, we must tackle insecurity head-on by pursuing and neutralizing bandits through coordinated operations, backed by modern equipment, technology, and strong intelligence,” Sowore said during the interview.
He further explained that his administration would establish a centralised control system capable of tracking threats in real time and coordinating rapid responses from security agencies across the country.
According to the former presidential candidate, Nigeria’s military and police institutions require strategic reforms, improved operational planning, and accountable leadership to successfully dismantle criminal networks operating in different regions.
Sowore also criticised the heavy dependence on expensive fighter jets, insisting that drones offer a cheaper and more efficient alternative for surveillance and combat operations. He argued that several countries are already relying on unmanned aerial systems to improve national security and intelligence operations.
The statement has since generated reactions online, with supporters praising the idea as a forward-thinking approach to modern security challenges, while critics questioned the practicality of replacing traditional defence leadership with technology-driven systems.
Sowore has consistently advocated for reforms in Nigeria’s security architecture, often calling for better intelligence coordination, improved welfare for security personnel, and the use of modern technology to address rising insecurity nationwide.
