Tinubu Calls for New Defence Doctrine, Permanent African CDS Forum
By: Zagazola Makama
President Bola Tinubu on Monday urged African nations to adopt a new doctrine of continental defence anchored on trust, shared intelligence and coordinated strategies to tackle rising security challenges on the continent.
Declaring open the maiden African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit in Abuja, Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said insecurity across Africa had assumed complex dimensions, making cooperation among countries inevitable.
“From the deserts where insurgency festers to the high seas where piracy prowls, from the silent corridors of cybercrime to the ruthless networks of transnational criminals, none of these tragedies respects borders, and neither should our response,” he said.
The president called for the establishment of a permanent African Chiefs of Defence Staff Forum, which he described as a platform for continuous dialogue, strategic foresight and operational coordination.
“We must institutionalise this spirit of unity and make it a cornerstone of Africa’s security architecture,” he said.
Tinubu stressed that security was the foundation of progress, noting that Nigeria had consistently worked with its neighbours and international partners in peacekeeping missions, counterterrorism operations and humanitarian interventions.
The president also urged African countries to invest in cyber defence, artificial intelligence and indigenous military innovation, while deepening collaboration with the private sector to develop home-grown solutions.
“Africa cannot remain merely a consumer of technology; we must be creators, innovators and owners of the tools that secure our tomorrow,” he said.
He paid tribute to fallen soldiers, saying their sacrifices must be honoured by strengthening defence institutions and partnerships.
Earlier, Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, represented by Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji Bello Matawalle, described the summit as historic, noting that it demonstrated Africa’s resolve to pursue collective security.
Also speaking, UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, said the gathering marked the beginning of a new era in African security cooperation.
“We cannot afford to be bystanders,” she said, urging defence authorities to keep pace with evolving technologies exploited by terror groups.
Similarly, ECOWAS Commission President, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, represented by Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, said the forum aligned with President Tinubu’s regional security vision and emphasised the centrality of cooperation in combating insecurity.
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, urged African defence chiefs to prioritise investment in cyber defence, artificial intelligence and local military technology.
“As host nation, Nigeria is deeply committed to the ideals of regional stability and continental defence integration,” Musa assured.
Former presidential chief of staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, also commended the initiative, saying Africa must own and strengthen its security architecture through synergy and intelligence sharing.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPC Ltd., Mr Bashir Ojulari, cited improvements in curbing crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism as evidence of the value of coordinated security efforts.
The summit, the first of its kind, was attended by defence chiefs from across Africa, Nigerian lawmakers, foreign diplomats and senior government officials.
