By Blessing Odega
Mr David Daser, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), has called for a science-driven approach to addressing Nigeria’s security challenges, saying military force alone cannot deliver lasting peace.
Daser said this on Wednesday in Jos, while delivering the keynote lecture at the 2026 Academy of Natural Science and Engineering in Nigeria (ANSEN) annual general meeting.
The theme of this year’s meeting is “Nigeria’s security conundrum – harnessing science, engineering & technology innovations for solutions”.
The CEO said Nigeria’s security crisis had become increasingly complex, with threats ranging from insurgency, banditry and farmer-herder conflicts to secessionist violence, oil-related crimes and cybercrime.
According to him, each security challenge has distinct causes and requires tailored solutions rooted in science, engineering and technology.
He said overreliance on military force had produced limited results, as criminal groups often relocated to other areas while poverty and unemployment continued to fuel recruitment into violent groups.
“The future of national security lies in science, engineering, innovation and digital technology.
“We must move from reactive responses to predictive, intelligence-driven security systems powered by data and emerging technologies,” he said.
Daser urged the government to strengthen Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), noting that an effective National Identity Management System (NIMS) would improve citizen identification, eliminate identity fraud and enhance national security.
He said the principle of “one person, one identity, one number” would strengthen governance and improve service delivery.
The DBI chief also advocated the deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to analyse security data, detect suspicious patterns, predict attacks and improve intelligence gathering.
He said blockchain technology could be used to protect records from manipulation and enhance transparency, while cautioning against storing sensitive biometric information directly on blockchain platforms.
Daser described the expansion of telecommunications infrastructure to underserved rural communities as a national security imperative, saying communities without network coverage were more vulnerable to criminal activities.
He stressed that cybersecurity should be treated as a national priority because of increasing attacks on digital infrastructure.
Daser urged universities to commercialise research outputs and collaborate with the Digital Bridge Institute through innovation sandboxes to transform scientific discoveries into practical solutions.
He also advocated making innovation management a key discipline in science and engineering education to bridge the gap between research and industry.
The DBI boss further called for stronger privacy and data protection laws, legal frameworks for responsible use of surveillance technologies and improved coordination among security agencies.
According to him, sustainable national security also depends on socio-economic development through improved roads, reliable electricity, enhanced agriculture, potable water supply, digital skills development and job creation.
He maintained that lasting peace in Nigeria would only be achieved by integrating science, engineering, innovation, digital infrastructure and sound public policy to address both the immediate threats and the root causes of insecurity.
Prof. Danladi Matawal, president of the Academy of Natural Science and Engineering in Nigeria (ANSEN), said Nigeria’s numerous challenges required solutions rooted in science, engineering and technology.
Matawal said the academy would continue to bring together leading scientists and engineers to generate knowledge, drive innovation and provide evidence-based advice to policymakers.
He called for stronger partnerships among academia, industry, government and international organisations, while advocating increased investment in education and research to nurture the next generation of scientists and engineers.
“The Academy of Natural Science and Engineering in Nigeria stands as a beacon of excellence.
“Let us recommit ourselves to the pursuit, encouragement and maintenance of excellence in applied science and engineering for useful purposes,” he said.
Matawal urged members to harness their collective expertise to address Nigeria’s challenges and contribute to global scientific knowledge.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the association inducted nine new members. NAN
