President Bola Tinubu has commended the Nigerian armed forces for their role in combating insurgency and other security challenges, describing their recent momentum as a launchpad for peace and national growth.
Speaking on Wednesday during the plenary session on Peace and Stability at the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in Yokohama, Japan, the President reaffirmed his administration’s determination to strengthen security institutions while addressing the root causes of instability.
“Nigeria’s brave armed forces can win any number of battles, but we do justice to their heroism only when we, as government, are courageous in tackling not just terror, but also the underlying causes,” Tinubu said.
The President highlighted ongoing investments in infrastructure, economic reforms, and collaboration with civil society and international partners as measures to improve the lives of Nigerians. He stressed that peace and stability remain the bedrock of meaningful development across Africa.
While reflecting on recent mediation efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tinubu said lessons could be drawn from linking peace agreements with investment opportunities. “We should be under no illusions about the scale of our task. But neither should we underestimate the successes we have had,” he noted.
He also urged global leaders to support market-driven partnerships instead of recurring calls for aid, and renewed Nigeria’s campaign for reforms at the United Nations, especially in the Security Council.
“Africa’s quest for fair and equitable representation in the UN Security Council is a just and fair demand. Africa deserves two seats in the Permanent Category, with all its prerogatives and privileges, including the Right of Veto,” Tinubu said, citing the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration.
On technology, he called for stronger international cooperation to ensure digital tools foster peace and trust rather than division.
Earlier in his remarks, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba unveiled a $5.5 billion collaborative economic framework for Africa through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the African Development Bank. He emphasised private sector-led growth, youth and women empowerment, and regional integration as the focus of Japan’s engagement with Africa.
“Japan is providing various cooperation and support for Africa. But first of all, Japan needs to know more about Africa. So, in creating solutions together at TICAD 9, we focus on three important areas: private sector-led sustainable growth, youth and women, and regional integration,” Ishiba said.
The Japanese leader also spoke about his country’s demographic challenges, including a shrinking population and reduced agricultural land, while pointing to Africa’s youthful population as a strength. He urged African leaders to build manufacturing capacity to harness the energy of their young citizens.
