Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), has said he would place a strong emphasis on drone technology rather than traditional military fighter jets if elected president of Nigeria.
Sowore made this known while speaking on national security and defence strategy, stressing that modern warfare and internal security challenges require smarter, technology-driven solutions. According to him, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, offer greater efficiency and effectiveness compared to conventional fighter jets.
“If I’m president of Nigeria, I’m not buying any jet anymore. I’m buying unmanned aerial vehicles. I want to invest in drones. They are pretty expensive, but they are more effective,” Sowore said.
He explained that drones provide superior surveillance capabilities while requiring fewer personnel, making them better suited for tackling Nigeria’s current security threats. Sowore noted that drones can be deployed to monitor vast and difficult terrains, track kidnappers, bandits, and insurgents, and gather real-time intelligence without exposing soldiers to unnecessary risks.
The former presidential candidate also argued that Nigeria’s security problems are largely internal and asymmetric in nature, requiring advanced surveillance and intelligence gathering rather than expensive fighter aircraft designed mainly for conventional warfare between states.
Sowore’s comments come amid ongoing debates about Nigeria’s defence spending and the effectiveness of military strategies in combating insecurity, including kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, and armed robbery across various parts of the country.
He maintained that investing in modern technology such as drones would not only improve national security outcomes but also reduce long-term costs and enhance accountability within the defence sector.