By Bavoriat Clara
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the Nigerian Armed Forces for their gallantry and successes in combating insurgency and criminality, while reaffirming his administration’s commitment to addressing the root causes of insecurity through institutional reforms, strengthened security architecture, and ongoing economic transformation.
The President made this known on Wednesday in Yokohama, Japan, during his intervention at the plenary session on Peace and Stability at the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9). His remarks were contained in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga.
President Tinubu stressed that peace and stability remain the bedrock of sustainable development, noting that Nigeria’s inclusivity, diversity, and adherence to the rule of law constitute its greatest national strengths.
“Our brave armed forces can win any number of battles, but we do justice to their heroism only when government is courageous enough to address not just terror, but also the underlying causes,” he said.
Highlighting Nigeria’s investments in infrastructure, institutional reforms, and collaboration with civil society and international partners, the President urged African nations to embrace fresh, market-driven cooperation models rather than relying on aid and handouts.
Citing recent mediation efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, he observed that linking peace pacts to economic considerations presents a new and effective approach to conflict resolution in Africa.
“We should be under no illusions about the scale of our task. But neither should we underestimate our progress. Africa must rethink mediation and peacebuilding by ensuring outcomes are directly tied to economic growth and inclusivity,” he stressed.
On global governance, President Tinubu renewed Nigeria’s call for reforms of the United Nations, particularly the Security Council, to reflect Africa’s aspirations for equitable representation. He argued that Africa deserves two permanent seats with veto powers, alongside additional non-permanent seats, in line with the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration.
Turning to technology, he advocated stronger international cooperation to ensure innovations become tools for peace, development, and trust, rather than instruments of alienation and division.
Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who declared TICAD9 open, underscored the importance of locally rooted solutions for Africa’s development. He outlined Japan’s priorities for cooperation, which include private sector-led sustainable growth, empowerment of women and youth, and regional integration.
The Prime Minister also announced a new collaborative economic framework between Japan and the African Development Bank, which will see up to $5.5 billion disbursed to Africa through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), with private sector investment finance serving as a catalyst.
Prime Minister Ishiba acknowledged Japan’s demographic and agricultural challenges, pointing out that Africa’s youthful population holds immense potential for growth. He urged African countries to harness the power of their young people by developing manufacturing industries that can drive productivity and job creation.
“In 75 years, Japan’s population will have halved, while Africa’s continues to grow. For Africa, the youthful population is an advantage. But to unleash its full potential, there must be a deliberate shift from primary industries such as agriculture and forestry to manufacturing. That is where true productivity and economic transformation will occur,” Ishiba said.
President Tinubu concluded by urging stronger partnerships based on equity and mutual benefit, affirming that Nigeria and Africa are determined to remain active players in shaping a peaceful, prosperous, and inclusive global order.
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