Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Martin Luther Agwai (retd.), has said that Africa’s worsening security challenges can only be effectively addressed through trust-building, knowledge sharing, and regionally tailored solutions.
Agwai, who is Vice President of the Board of the International Institute for African Defence, Security and Governance (IIADSGOV), stated this while addressing the Association of African Defence Attachés in Washington, United States.
The retired army chief stressed that Africa’s security architecture must move beyond reliance on external actors and instead focus on indigenous leadership and collaboration.
“True leadership in defence is rooted not just in capacity and strength but also in integrity, discipline, and commitment to serve our nations and peoples,” Agwai said.
“It is incumbent upon us to foster trust, enhance cooperation, and share knowledge to build resilient security structures in Africa.”
Agwai warned that issues such as banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, and organised crime remain threats to stability across the continent. He urged African defence leaders to adopt innovative and adaptive approaches in confronting these challenges.
IIADSGOV, with its headquarters in Washington D.C. and a regional office in Nigeria serving as the ECOWAS coordination hub, is recognised by the U.S. State Department and Department of Defence as a broker of defence articles, services, and training under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).
According to him, the institute provides a platform for African countries to strengthen security cooperation, improve defence capacity, and promote knowledge exchange among military leaders and institutions.
Aligning his remarks with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which promotes “African solutions to African problems,” Agwai emphasised the need for policies that strengthen sovereignty and reduce dependence on foreign interventions.
He added that resilient security institutions, strengthened governance, and regional cooperation would pave the way for a peaceful and unified Africa.
Security analysts have consistently warned that Nigeria and other African nations risk long-term instability unless deliberate steps are taken to integrate local knowledge, intelligence-sharing, and trust-building mechanisms into continental defence strategies.
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