Omoyele Sowore
Iyunade Grace
African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has doubled down on a radical security proposal, insisting that if he becomes Nigeria’s president in 2027, his Minister of Defence would be a drone. He made the statement during a live interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Thursday night, saying “If I become Nigeria’s president tomorrow, my minister of defence will be a drone. That’s how much I believe in technology.” The comment quickly went viral and sparked debate about how far Nigeria should go in overhauling its security architecture.
Sowore framed the idea as a direct response to Nigeria’s prolonged insecurity crisis. He argued that outdated methods and weak coordination among security agencies have failed to contain terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping. According to him, the military and police have been let down by commanders who stay in Abuja “fighting over land” instead of leading operations in the field. He said Nigeria needs honest, accountable security leaders focused on real protection rather than politics or distractions.
The core of his plan is a central command and control system powered by drones and artificial intelligence. Sowore explained that the system would monitor criminal activities across the country in real time, track armed groups, dismantle networks, and respond swiftly before attacks escalate. He added that the drone “will fly everywhere” and his administration would set up a control centre where operatives sit to track terrorists and neutralize them. The approach, he said, is about replacing bureaucracy with technology-driven rapid response.
He criticized Nigeria’s reliance on expensive conventional hardware like fighter jets that require years of pilot training and complex overseas supply chains. Sowore believes such systems are mismatched for fighting agile, asymmetric criminal networks that operate in forests and remote areas. Drones, by contrast, can provide persistent surveillance, intelligence gathering, and precision strikes with faster deployment and lower overhead, making them better suited to the nature of Nigeria’s current threats.
Beyond hardware, Sowore said technology alone won’t solve insecurity without honest leadership and a refocused police force. He called for security chiefs who are committed to public safety instead of misusing state power for intimidation or political interests. He also argued that the police should return to their core mandate of internal security instead of “escorting people or arresting people for insulting others on Facebook.” For him, a repositioned military and police backed by strong intelligence are essential to make any tech-driven strategy work.
Sowore also linked security to broader social conditions. He acknowledged that military action cannot end the crisis on its own and that Nigeria must build a society where people have access to jobs and education. In his words, “you must create a society where people can find jobs, go to school, and not be willing tool.” That way, he believes, fewer young people would be recruited into criminal networks and banditry would lose its base of support.
The proposal is already drawing mixed reactions. Supporters see it as a bold break from failed bureaucratic structures and a push toward modern warfare tactics already used in other conflict zones. Critics question the feasibility, cost, and ethical implications of delegating so much authority to autonomous systems. Regardless of the debate, Sowore’s “drone as defence minister” line has become one of his signature talking points for the 2027 race, positioning him as the candidate betting heavily on tech over traditional security bureaucracy.
