Sanwo-Olu, Defence Minister Badaru Call for Tech-Driven, Regional Unity Against Terrorism in Africa

 

In a powerful joint statement, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, have called for the adoption of advanced technologies and stronger regional collaboration to combat terrorism and transnational crime across Africa.

Speaking at a high-level security summit held in Lagos on Thursday, the duo emphasized that the continent must move beyond conventional strategies and embrace modern solutions that leverage digital surveillance, intelligence sharing, and coordinated regional action.

Governor Sanwo-Olu highlighted the growing threat of cyber-enabled criminal networks, arms trafficking, and terrorist movements that span across borders, stressing that no single country can effectively tackle the challenges alone.

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“Terrorism is evolving. Crime is increasingly transnational. It is time Africa evolves its defense and security posture to match these realities. Technology must be at the forefront from artificial intelligence for surveillance to data-driven policing systems,” Sanwo-Olu said.

Minister Badaru echoed the governor’s concerns, urging African nations to scale up their defense capabilities and operational coordination. “Africa’s security threats are interconnected. Bandits in one region may have funding links to extremist networks elsewhere. We must build trust, share intelligence in real-time, and deploy modern tools to dismantle these threats at their root,” he said.

The summit, which brought together security experts, policymakers, and international observers, focused on advancing collective security architecture within ECOWAS and the broader African Union framework. Both leaders also called for private-sector engagement, especially in tech development, to support public security goals.

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The call to action by Sanwo-Olu and Badaru has sparked discussions among stakeholders, with several security analysts praising the joint initiative as timely and visionary.

More regional engagements are expected in the coming months to build on the Lagos summit’s momentum and translate its resolutions into practical outcomes across the continent.