Nigeria has called on African countries to strengthen strategic autonomy, boost indigenous defence production and reduce dependence on foreign military equipment and technology to address the continent’s security challenges.
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), made the call at the conclusion of the African Defence Exhibition and Conference (AFRIDEX 2026) in Lagos, where he engaged with visiting African Ministers of Defence and Chiefs of Defence Staff.
A Press Statement issued by Leah Katung-Babatunde, the Special Assistant (Media) to the Honourable Minister disclosed.
Musa said Africa must move from being a theatre of external geopolitical competition to becoming a self-reliant force capable of influencing global security decisions.
He stressed that defence partnerships must reflect African priorities, protect national sovereignty and promote strategic independence rather than deepen reliance on external powers.
The minister also called for stronger African representation in global security decision-making and greater coordination among continental, regional and national defence institutions.
Addressing security challenges across the Sahel, Lake Chad Basin, the Horn of Africa and parts of Central and Southern Africa, Musa said terrorism, violent extremism and organised crime required coordinated responses beyond individual countries.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to cross-regional cooperation between ECOWAS member states and the Alliance of Sahel States, alongside diplomatic and peacebuilding efforts to address protracted conflicts in Sudan and the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The minister further advocated integrated governance approaches to tackle the underlying causes of instability and strengthen civilian protection across the continent.
On defence production, Musa identified Africa’s dependence on foreign military equipment, spare parts and technical support as a major vulnerability.
He called for increased local manufacturing, technology transfer and joint maintenance ventures to strengthen indigenous defence industries and improve the continent’s capacity to respond to emerging threats.
The minister also urged African countries to make the African Standby Force fully operational, with adequate financing, rapid-response capacity and strategic mobility.
He called for improved maritime domain awareness and coordinated naval exercises to protect strategic sea routes in the Gulf of Guinea and the Red Sea.
To translate the conference’s resolutions into concrete outcomes, Musa proposed a structured follow-up mechanism among participating defence institutions to coordinate joint training, intelligence sharing and defence industrial partnerships.
He said Africa’s security future should be determined by the collective resolve, capabilities and strategic choices of its nations, reaffirming Nigeria’s readiness to work with other countries towards a secure, united and self-reliant continent.
The meeting commended Nigeria for organising the first African Defence Exhibition and pledged support for sustaining the initiative to advance Africa’s security sovereignty.
