Lt.-General Emmanuel Undiandeye, Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), has reaffirmed the Defence Intelligence Agency’s (DIA) commitment to leveraging technology and human intelligence to strengthen Nigeria’s national security.

Speaking at the 2025 Chief of Defence Intelligence Annual Conference in Abuja on Monday, themed “Multi-source Intelligence Innovation in a Challenging National Security Ecosystem”, Gen. Undiandeye highlighted the dynamic and complex nature of Nigeria’s security environment, marked by insurgency, terrorism, banditry, and organised crime. The conference brought together senior defence intelligence officers, Nigeria’s defence attaches abroad, regional directors, and state coordinators.

The CDI emphasized that modern security challenges demand a multi-dimensional, multi-agency approach integrating human, signal, open-source, imagery, and data intelligence to enhance situational awareness and support leadership decision-making.

“Multi-source intelligence lies at the heart of our ability to anticipate, dictate, and neutralise emerging threats. By leveraging innovations in data analytics, artificial intelligence, and interagency information sharing, we can achieve a unified national intelligence framework capable of supporting strategic and operational decision-making,” he said.

Gen. Undiandeye outlined DIA initiatives, including:

• Digitisation of intelligence processes
• Enhancement of cyber and special intelligence capabilities
• Establishment of specialised task groups for inter-agency collaboration
• Integration of AI, machine learning, and data analytics

He stressed that these reforms ensure intelligence production remains timely, relevant, and comprehensive, while also strengthening regional cooperation and intelligence diplomacy. The CDI also highlighted the role of the Defence Intelligence Agency Technology Centre (DIATC), established last year, focusing on cyber security, AI, robotics, machine learning, and data analytics.

“National security cannot be achieved in isolation. Our defence attaches and allied partnerships play a vital role in intelligence exchanges, joint training, and regional stability,” he said.

The conference served as a platform to review threats, evaluate operational experiences, strengthen cooperation across national and international security institutions, and develop sustainable strategies to safeguard Nigeria’s national interests.