PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has praised the resilience and achievements of Nigeria’s armed forces in the battle against insurgency and criminality, while urging global leaders to confront not only terrorism but also its underlying causes.
Speaking at the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) plenary session on Peace and Stability, President Tinubu said his administration remains committed to strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture alongside implementing bold economic and institutional reforms.
“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 declared.
He added that inclusivity, diversity, and the rule of law remain Nigeria’s enduring strengths and critical tools for national unity and stability.
Earlier, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba pledged up to $5.5 billion in support for Africa, in collaboration with the African Development Bank, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency’s (JICA) private sector investment finance.
The Prime Minister said Japan’s focus would be on private sector-led sustainable growth, youth and women empowerment, and regional integration.
Acknowledging Africa’s youthful demographic as an asset, Ishiba stressed the importance of building manufacturing industries to create jobs and increase productivity. He also noted Japan’s own demographic challenges, including declining population and shrinking agricultural land, and called for mutual cooperation.
In his address, President Tinubu reiterated Nigeria’s longstanding demand for a reformed United Nations Security Council, insisting Africa deserves permanent representation with full privileges, including veto powers.
“It is the view of Nigeria that Africa’s quest for fair and equitable representation in the UN Security Council is a just and fair demand,” Tinubu said. “Africa deserves two seats in the Permanent Category, with all prerogatives, as well as additional non-permanent seats, in line with the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration.”
President Tinubu underscored that sustainable peace is inseparable from economic opportunity, pointing to recent peace pacts in Congo as proof that linking mediation efforts with investment can yield progress.
He also urged world leaders to embrace market-driven cooperation rather than dependence on aid and handouts.
“True solidarity requires partnerships rooted in shared interest, not outdated appeals for aid,” he said, adding that international cooperation should also ensure that information and technology become tools of peace and trust rather than division.
The Nigerian leader reaffirmed his government’s investments in infrastructure, institutional reforms, and collaboration with civil society and international partners to uplift citizens’ living standards.
He stressed that peace and stability remain prerequisites for Africa’s prosperity, while also paying tribute to aid workers and security personnel who continue to make sacrifices in conflict zones.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, confirmed that the President’s remarks reflect Nigeria’s renewed global engagement and its commitment to Africa’s growth.