By Harriet Tornguvan -Abuja
Focus on Regional Peace, Strategic Collaboration, and Homegrown Solutions
Nigeria will host the 2025 African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit from August 25 to 27 at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre and Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, with the theme “Combating Contemporary Threats to Regional Peace and Security in Africa: The Role of Strategic Defence Collaboration.”
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, announced the summit during a press conference in Abuja, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to safeguarding its territory, strengthening regional security, and supporting the international community.
According to the CDS, the gathering will bring together defence chiefs from all 54 African countries, with over 90 percent confirming attendance. The event will be declared open by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, will deliver the keynote address. A concurrent defence exhibition will showcase Africa’s military capabilities, with backing from the United Nations, African Union, ECOWAS, and other regional bodies.
The summit will focus on fostering collaboration among African militaries, improving intelligence-sharing, enhancing joint training, and developing coordinated responses to transnational threats. It also aims to strengthen the African Union’s peace and security architecture, promote indigenous defence industries, and integrate the private sector into Africa’s security framework.
Delegates are expected to address terrorism, violent extremism, banditry, maritime insecurity, cyber threats, and the impact of climate change on security. Discussions will also cover interoperability among African forces, defence diplomacy, capacity building, and peacekeeping operations.
General Musa emphasised that Africa must take ownership of its security challenges and work collectively to find sustainable solutions. He thanked President Tinubu for his unwavering support to the Armed Forces and urged Nigerians to remain steadfast in backing national security efforts.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria are for Nigerians,” Musa said. “We cannot succeed without the support of the people. Our goal is to ensure that our country, our region, and our continent remain safe and secure.”
The summit is expected to produce a unified strategy to tackle shared security challenges, reinforce military cooperation, and project Nigeria’s leadership role in Africa’s defence and security landscap
