Minister of State for Defence, Mr. Bello Matawalle, has called for concerted efforts to tackle Africa’s evolving security threats, ranging from terrorism to cyber attacks and maritime security challenges.
The minister described those threats as complex, transnational, and increasingly asymmetric; hence, they required not just national resilience, but also strong continental cooperation.
Speaking at the opening of the first African Defence Chiefs of Staff Summit (ADCSS) in Abuja on Monday, Matawalle said that “Africa’s security challenges must be driven by African solutions, African leadership, and African unity.”
The theme of the maiden summit was: “Combating Contemporary Threats to Regional Peace and Security in Africa: The Role of Strategic Defence Collaboration.”
“No single country can secure the continent alone. We must work together, sharing intelligence, learning doctrine, and building trust among defence institutions. The future of warfare is digital, fast-moving, and unpredictable.
“We must work together as defence leaders. We must embrace innovation. We must invest in cyber defence, artificial intelligence, and indigenous military technologies.
“Africa must not just keep up with global threats. We must take the lead in shaping them. Let this summit serve as a platform for defence industrial collaboration, joint training, and planning,” he said.
The minister said the summit should be institutionalised as an annual platform for strategic dialogue, for nations and professional action, calling for the building of “a continent where peace is permanent, and our armed forces stand as a symbol of pride, professionalism, and progress.”
In an address of welcome earlier, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lt.-Gen. Christopher Musa, noted that though Africa stands on the edge of unprecedented opportunity, driven by a vibrant youth population, vast resources, and a spirit of innovation, those promises were challenged by a complex and evolving spectrum of security threats.
The CDS also noted that the scourge of violent extremism and terrorism, the menace of transnational organised crime, piracy, and the insidious impacts of climate change challenge recognised borders.
“They are hydra-headed, resilient, and demand a response that is equally dynamic, unified, and strategic. The choice of the theme of this summit, “Combating Contemporary Threats to Regional Peace and Security in Africa: The Role of Strategic Defence Collaboration,” is both timely and pertinent.
“It captures the urgent need for a united action in addressing the complex and evolving security challenges confronting our continent. Consequently, this gathering offers us a rare opportunity to forge a unified front. It is a platform to harmonise our doctrines, strengthen interoperability, and build enduring trust among our Defence institutions,” he said.
Musa said the continent needs to craft a new architecture of African-led security cooperation, emphasising that true security is not achieved in isolation.
“It is built through shared intelligence, joint training, and coordinated action. Nigeria stands ready to work with our brothers and sisters across the continent to develop frameworks that are proactive, resilient, and responsive to the realities of our time.
“The current threats are no longer confined to conventional warfare as they are digital, asymmetric, and often invisible.
“As Chiefs of Defence Staff and heads of our Armed Forces, we must lead the charge in modernising our forces, investing in cyber defence, artificial intelligence, and indigenous military technology.
“The challenges before us are great, but so too is our resolve. Let us rise above division and embrace unity. Let us build a continent where our people can live free from fear, and where our Armed Forces are symbols of stability, professionalism, and pride. Let us use this Summit to explore how we can build a defence-industrial base that is African in origin, African in design, and African in purpose,” he added.
