Nigeria's Defence Minister Advocates for African Security Self-Reliance

At the African Defence Exhibition and Conference (AFRIDEX 2026) in Lagos, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, Nigeria's Minister of Defence, called for a significant shift in Africa's approach to global security. He urged African nations to move from being a battleground for external geopolitical competition to becoming self-reliant actors in global security.

Musa reaffirmed Nigeria's commitment to continental solidarity and the development of indigenous defence capabilities. He stressed the importance of a unified continental stance against external interference and the need for defence partnerships that align with African priorities.

Addressing security challenges in regions such as the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin, he advocated for cross-regional cooperation among ECOWAS member states and the Alliance of Sahel States. Musa also highlighted Africa's reliance on external military support as a vulnerability and called for local defence production and technology transfer.

He proposed enhancing the operational capacity of the African Standby Force and improving maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea and the Red Sea.