President Bola Tinubu has said the leadership role of Nigeria in Africa and the West African subregion will be intensified and sustained
Tinubu disclosed this on Saturday through speaker of the house of representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, at the passing-out ceremony for cadets of the 73rd regular course and short service course 49 of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna.
Tinubu stated that Nigeria would continue to promote democracy, stability, security cooperation and economic integration across the continent.
He stated that the transnational nature of emerging security threats made regional and global cooperation highly essential
“Nigeria will continue to enhance our commitments to democracy and stability in our region and indeed globally,” Tinubu said.
“Despite the setbacks in cooperation within the subregion, especially in the Sahel, Nigeria under my leadership, through the auspices of ECOWAS and other regional bodies, will continue to pursue inclusive diplomacy, security cooperation, and economic integration.
“Consequently, with the military’s unalloyed support for democratic governance, Nigeria’s continental and regional leadership role will continue to be upheld and intensified.
“We remain opposed to unconstitutional changes of government; however, we will not abandon our brothers and sisters in Mali, Niger, or Burkina Faso.
“Preserving five decades of ECOWAS achievements, covering free movement, trade, and regional coordination, is essential to our collective security and prosperity.”
Tinubu said despite Nigeria’s diverse challenges, his administration has “remained steadfast, focused, and committed to building a secure, stable, and prosperous Nigeria”.
“Through the continuous and surgical application of all elements of national power, including, and most importantly, the military, we have continued to stabilise the situation, improving our responses and expanding as well as modifying our interventions, which thankfully are yielding desired outcomes,” said Tinubu.
“We aptly recognise that kinetic military operations alone cannot defeat insecurity since poverty, unemployment, poor education, and social disintegration are notable drivers of conflicts.
“That is why under the renewed hope agenda, we are pursuing job creation, macroeconomic stability, human capital development, and social protection in tandem with our security efforts.”
The president said the NDA has enhanced counter-terrorism and counterinsurgency training designed to suit contemporary security challenges, including the rapid integration of technology into training and research.
“I am particularly encouraged that the Nigerian Defence Academy is increasingly receiving international recognition through invitations extended to its cadets to participate in highly competitive military cadet competitions in the United States, Brazil, and most recently, the People’s Republic of China,” he said.
“Such invitations are earned through demonstrated excellence. They attest to the remarkable improvements in the academy’s training standards, professionalism, and global standing, while affirming that Nigeria is producing officers capable of competing and excelling alongside the very best military institutions in the world.”
