President Bola Tinubu has commended Nigeria’s Armed Forces for their resilience in the fight against insurgency and criminality, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to tackling the root causes of insecurity.
Speaking on Wednesday at the plenary session on Peace and Stability at the 9th Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD 9) in Yokohama, Japan, President Tinubu said inclusivity, diversity, and adherence to the rule of law remain Nigeria’s strongest pillars for peace and stability.
“Our 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 stressed that peace and stability are indispensable for development across Africa, pointing to recent peace pacts in the Congo as evidence that mediation anchored on economic opportunities can yield positive outcomes.
He also called for market-driven cooperation and international partnerships, rejecting what he described as “hackneyed appeals for aid and handouts.”
In his remarks at the opening ceremony, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba pledged Japan’s support for Africa’s growth, announcing a new economic framework in partnership with the African Development Bank. Under the initiative, Japan will disburse up to $5.5 billion, leveraging the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) private sector investment finance as a catalyst.
Prime Minister Ishiba highlighted three priority areas—private sector-led sustainable growth, youth and women empowerment, and regional integration—while urging African countries to work with Japan as it confronts the challenges of a shrinking population and declining farmland.
“There is so much growing young population in Africa, but for the power of young people to flourish, you need to create a manufacturing industry and employment. That is very important,” Ishiba said.
President Tinubu also seized the platform to press for United Nations reforms, insisting that Africa deserves two permanent seats with veto powers on the Security Council, in line with the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration.
On technology, the President urged global cooperation to ensure innovation becomes a tool for trust and peace rather than conflict and alienation.
The TICAD summit, co-hosted by Japan, the UN, the African Union, and the World Bank, continues to focus on partnerships for Africa’s sustainable development.