President Bola Tinubu has called on African nations to strengthen cooperation and develop a new continental defence doctrine to tackle terrorism, cybercrime, piracy, and other security threats across the continent.
Speaking on Monday at the maiden African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit in Abuja, the President — represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima — said Africa must build a security framework rooted in trust, shared intelligence, and coordinated strategy.
“The scale of threats across Africa makes it imperative for us to pause and reflect. From insurgency in the deserts to piracy at sea, from cybercrime to transnational crime, none of these respects borders, and neither should our response,” Tinubu said.
He proposed the creation of a permanent African Chiefs of Defence Staff Forum to enable continuous dialogue, joint training, harmonised doctrines, and operational coordination, stressing that security is the foundation of progress.
The President also urged African nations to invest in cyber defence, artificial intelligence, and indigenous military technology, while seeking partnerships with the private sector for defence-industrial collaboration. “Africa cannot remain merely a consumer of technology; we must be creators, innovators, and owners of the tools that secure our tomorrow,” he said.
Tinubu further paid tribute to fallen soldiers, saying their sacrifices must be honoured through stronger institutions, values, and partnerships.
In his remarks, Minister of Defence Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, represented by Minister of State Bello Matawale, described the summit as historic and a bold step towards a safer continent. UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed also called the gathering the dawn of a new era in African security cooperation, urging militaries to be proactive against emerging threats.
President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, represented by Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, said the summit reflects Tinubu’s vision of empowering peace and security structures across Africa. Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, reiterated the need to prioritise cyber defence, AI, and indigenous innovation.
Other speakers, including former presidential aide Prof. Ibrahim Gambari and NNPCL Group CEO Bashir Ojulari, highlighted the importance of intelligence-sharing, synergy in defence coordination, and collaboration to curb challenges such as crude oil theft.
The summit, hosted by Nigeria, brought together military chiefs and stakeholders to chart a new path for Africa’s security architecture.
