Nigeria Hosts Maiden African Chiefs Of Defence Staff Summit
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa said on Wednesday in Abuja that preparations are almost concluded by Nigeria to host the maiden African Chiefs of Defence Summit in Abuja from August 25 to 27.
He said all the 54 African Countries”Defence Chiefs are all coming, have all been invited, and so far we have received more than 90 percent attendance.”
General Musa who announced this during pre- summit press briefing on Wednesday said “the emphasis is to show Nigeria’s readiness to continue to secure its territory, its region, the African continent and provide support to the international community.”
He stressed the facts “that Nigeria has over the time continued to support other countries in restoring peace and security within their environment ” adding that “In view of the threats that we’re facing as a nation, as a continent, we feel it’s important that we come together, inviting all the Chiefs of Defence Staff to sit down, look at our challenges, proffer solutions to them as Africans and as brothers and sisters,.”
The CDS profoundly appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for all the support to the Armed Forces of Nigeria and assured him and the entire Nigerians that “the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies are working together as one team to secure Nigeria.”
On the summit’s objectives, he said: “One is to foster collaboration among African Defence Chiefs to address shared security challenges, promote intelligence-sharing, joint training, and coordinated responses to trans-national threats.
To “strengthen the African Union peace and security architecture and regional mechanisms like ECOWAS Standby Force, developing mechanisms for integrating the private sector into Africa’s defence efforts, and establishing a roundtable for the initiation of homegrown solutions to African defence needs.”
He said it is important that as Africans we discuss our problems and proffer solutions towards them as the key security challenges across Africa continue to fester.
“We have terrorism and violent extremism, Boko Haram, al-Shabaab, ISIS affiliates, and other insurgent groups. Banditry and kidnappings, especially in the Sahel and West African regions, piracy and maritime security, and Gulf of Guinea concerns and blue economy protection, cyber security threats, growing digital vulnerabilities in defence systems, and climate security nexus, resource conflicts, migration, and environmental stressors. I’m sure we always remember the Lake Chad region”, he noted.
General Musa said they would also look into “regional cooperation and defence diplomacy. The importance of interoperability and joint exercises among African militaries, which is very important, enhancing defence diplomacy to build trust and resolve conflicts peacefully.”
“Like we have always said, the kinetic and the non-kinetic must work hand-in-hand”
We want to consider the role of the regional blocs, ECOWAS, SADC, ESE, in harmonising defence strategies. We feel that there are gaps that need to be closed, and working together as one team for all the chief of defence staff, we will be able to identify these gaps and be able to address them. Next is the issue of capacity building and modernisation.
The need for investment in technology, logistics, and personnel training. It’s important that we see that as Africans, we’re able to produce what we need. Promoting indigenous defence industries and innovation, encouraging youth participation in national defence through cadet programs and military academies.
According to CDS , the event which will take place from 25th to 27th August 2025 at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre and Transcorp, Abuja with the theme “Combating Contemporary Threats to Regional Peace and Security in Africa, the Role of Strategic Defence Collaboration” will be declared open by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
