Nigeria has called for predictable funding, stronger intelligence-sharing and improved continental security mechanisms to enable African countries to tackle terrorism and other emerging security threats independently.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, made the call at the opening ceremony of the Consultative Forum on Strengthening the Functional Performance of the African Union Peace and Security Architecture in Abuja on Thursday.
The call was contained in a statement signed by Oluwafemi Adeniyi, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Thursday, October 8, 2026. Odumegwu-Ojukwu said Africa must take greater responsibility for addressing its security challenges amid rising regional threats, pressure on multilateralism and gaps in existing continental security frameworks.
She expressed concern over the growing wave of terrorism across Africa, noting that armed groups were increasingly deploying new technologies in their operations and financing their activities through transnational organised crime and illicit financial flows.
The minister urged African countries to strengthen the Continental Early Warning System, African-led mediation initiatives and the African Peer Review Mechanism to improve conflict prevention and response.
She also emphasised the need to establish sustainable national peace infrastructures, improve intelligence-sharing among African states and address local grievances, youth unemployment and other factors contributing to insecurity.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu stressed the importance of increasing support for rehabilitation and reintegration programmes for individuals affected by terrorism.
She encouraged African countries to leverage the African Union Counter-Terrorism Centre to coordinate continental efforts against terrorist activities.
On financing, the minister emphasised the need for complementarity between the African Union Peace Fund and international funding commitments, including those of the United Nations.
She called for predictable and sustainable financing for African Union-led peace operations and improved peace support operations through the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2719.
The minister also urged the full operationalisation of the African Standby Force and regional standby forces to strengthen the continent’s capacity to respond rapidly to emerging security threats.
She expressed optimism that the two-day consultative forum would produce practical recommendations to strengthen Africa’s collective capacity to prevent conflicts, respond to emerging threats and promote sustainable peace and security.
READ ALSO: Don Urges FG, Investors to Boost Renewable Energy Technology
FG Allocates Funds for 3D Prosthetics Training Centre in Abuja
The forum is focused on four key priorities: mediation and preventive diplomacy, early warning and response, counter-terrorism, and peace support operations.
Nigeria expects the meeting to produce actionable recommendations for improving security coordination across Africa, strengthening financing mechanisms for peace initiatives and enhancing the capacity of African institutions to address the continent’s evolving security challenges.
About The Author
1 thought on “Nigeria Seeks Self-Reliant African Security Architecture, Urges Predictable Funding”