President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged African countries to ensure that defence partnerships go beyond equipment procurement to promote technology transfer develop local expertise and strengthen indigenous defence industries.
He said successful defence cooperation must leave African countries with the capacity to maintain military equipment develop homegrown solutions and sustain their security operations.
Tinubu spoke at the opening ceremony of the Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) 2026 in Lagos. He was represented by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
This was contained in a statement that was issued by Jackson Udom Special Assistant to the President of the Senate on Media.
According to the President defence acquisitions should help develop local skills transfer knowledge strengthen domestic industries and improve countries’ capacity to maintain equipment.
‘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 defence partnerships should be measured by the capabilities they leave behind stressing that African engineers must acquire expertise local businesses must grow and national institutions must become stronger.
Tinubu also called for sustained support for African-led peace operations noting that the commitment of troops deployed to conflict zones must be matched by adequate funding equipment rigorous training and institutional support.
‘Those we send to keep the peace must have the means to keep the peace’ he said.
The President described AFRIDEX as a platform for bringing together military experience technological innovation defence industries and strategic partnerships to develop practical solutions to the continent’s security challenges.
He said threats facing Africa from the Gulf of Guinea to the Sahel as well as across territorial borders cyberspace and outer space had become increasingly complex and interconnected.
According to him these threats endanger lives and livelihoods disrupt trade and undermine development making collective action imperative.
‘Africa’s security must therefore command our collective attention because there can be no enduring prosperity where fear governs daily life’ he said.
Tinubu noted that Nigeria had experienced the devastating consequences of insecurity including loss of lives displacement of communities disrupted livelihoods and lost economic opportunities.
He commended the Nigerian Armed Forces for their sacrifices in confronting terrorism insurgency banditry piracy and other transnational threats while paying tribute to personnel who had lost their lives in the line of duty.
He said their sacrifices placed an obligation on the government to provide the necessary leadership equipment training and support.
The President added that lasting security required strong institutions public trust reliable international partnerships and sufficient domestic industrial capacity to sustain defence operations.
On maritime security Tinubu emphasised the strategic importance of the Gulf of Guinea to regional trade energy security and economic prosperity.
He urged African countries to strengthen maritime cooperation to protect legitimate commercial activities and deny criminal networks safe havens.
He also called for greater investment in emerging technologies including artificial intelligence cyber capabilities space technologies and autonomous systems which he said were transforming the nature of modern warfare.
Tinubu stressed that African countries needed the knowledge institutions and technical expertise to understand and responsibly deploy these technologies while developing indigenous solutions.
He expressed confidence in the continent’s young population saying African youths possessed the talent needed to drive technological advancement if given the necessary opportunities.
The President said AFRIDEX 2026 represented a renewed commitment to translating Africa’s potential into practical defence capabilities.
He urged participants to ensure that partnerships established at the exhibition improved military readiness encouraged innovation and produced tangible benefits for citizens.
Tinubu 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