Tinubu urges Africa to build indigenous defence capacity through partnerships

President Bola Tinubu has urged African countries to ensure that defence partnerships deliver lasting benefits through technology transfer, skills development and the strengthening of local defence industries.

Tinubu said military cooperation across the continent must go beyond the supply of equipment to building sustainable capabilities that enable African countries to maintain their defence systems, respond to security threats and support peacekeeping operations.

The President made the call at the opening ceremony of the Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) 2026 in Lagos. He was represented at the event by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.

According to Tinubu, successful defence partnerships should equip African engineers with relevant expertise, support the growth of local enterprises and strengthen institutions responsible for national and regional security.

“Every major acquisition should help develop skills, transfer knowledge, strengthen local industry and deepen our capacity to maintain what we operate,” he said.

He added that the success of a defence partnership should be measured by the capabilities it leaves behind, stressing that African countries must develop the expertise and industrial capacity needed to sustain their military operations.

The President also called for predictable funding, adequate equipment, rigorous training and sustained institutional support for African-led peace operations.

“The courage to respond to crises must be matched by predictable resources, adequate equipment, rigorous training and sustained institutional support. Those we send to keep the peace must have the means to keep the peace,” he said.

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Tinubu noted that Africa faced increasingly complex and interconnected security threats, ranging from terrorism and insurgency to maritime crime and emerging risks in cyberspace and outer space.

He said the threats, which affect lives, livelihoods, trade and development, required collective action by African governments.

“Africa’s security must therefore command our collective attention, because there can be no enduring prosperity where fear governs daily life,” he stated.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s security challenges, Tinubu said the country had experienced the devastating consequences of terrorism, insurgency, banditry, piracy and other transnational crimes.

He commended the Armed Forces for their courage and sacrifices, while noting that the government had a responsibility to provide the leadership, equipment, training and support required for them to perform their duties effectively.

The President stressed that lasting security depended not only on military strength but also on strong institutions, public trust, reliable partnerships and domestic industrial capacity.

On maritime security, Tinubu called for stronger cooperation among African countries to protect the Gulf of Guinea, describing the region as critical to trade, energy security and shared prosperity.

He said enhanced collaboration was necessary to safeguard legitimate commerce and prevent criminal networks from operating freely across the region.

Tinubu also urged African countries to prepare for the changing nature of warfare, citing the growing influence of cyber capabilities, space technologies, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems on the security environment.

He said the continent must invest in the knowledge, institutions and expertise required to understand and responsibly deploy emerging technologies, while developing home-grown solutions.

“Our young people have the talent; our responsibility is to create the opportunity,” he said.

Describing AFRIDEX 2026 as an opportunity to translate Africa’s potential into practical defence capabilities, Tinubu urged participants to use the exhibition to strengthen military readiness, promote innovation and establish partnerships that produce measurable results.

He said the ultimate objective was to build African nations where peace creates opportunities, public service earns trust and citizens can look to the future with confidence.