Presidential CNG Initiative Equips Nigerian Army with Eco-Friendly Transport Fleet, Hands Over Five CNG Buses

... ACDSS 2025 to Shape Africa's Security Future

Nigeria's Armed Forces will be hosting about 53 Chiefs of Defence from across Africa and resource persons from across the Globe, some foreign partners as well as senior retired and serving military officers at the maiden edition of the African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit (ACDSS) 2025 in Abuja.

The African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit (ACDSS) was conceptualised by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa OFR, as a premier platform for the Chiefs of Defence establishments across the continent to engage in dialogue on shared Defence and Security mechanisms to enhance defence capabilities amongst African nations. 

The Summit, according to the Chairman organising committee, Air Vice Marshal Precious Amadi, is scheduled from 25 to 27 August 2025 at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja and Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

Disclosing the theme for the inaugural Summit, "Combating Contemporary Threats to Regional Peace and Security in Africa: The Role of Strategic Defence Collaborations," Air Vice Marshal Amadi said it will cover 4 thematic areas including: Initiating Discussions on Collective Strategies for African Security Issues, facilitating Collaborative Response to Peace and Security Issues in Africa, developing Mechanisms for Integrating the Private Sector into Africa's Defence Efforts, and establishing a Roundtable for the Initiation of Homegrown Solutions to Africa's Defence Needs.

He noted that the event is also expected to showcase Africa's defence capabilities through a defence exhibition, which will be held concurrently with the Summit. 

The exhibition is particularly important as it has become imperative to adapt home-grown responses to emerging threats, especially through support to locally manufactured defence equipment.

Aside from the 53 Chiefs of Defence from across Africa expected at the summit, heads of AU and ECOWAS Commissions, Governors, Honourable Ministers, government officers and heads of various security agencies, will be attending the summit.

He clarified that the strained political relationship between the trio and members of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), did not affect the cooperation between the countries’ militaries.

“We don’t get involved in political issues, but I can tell you with all confidence that under the International Joint Task Force, Niger Republic is still participating, even though we have a strained political relationship with them.

“So, Mali, Niger Republic, Burkina Faso, one of the issues with them, militarily, is that threat to one is threat to all.

“So, on the military side, we are working together. We have written to them, informing them about the summit, and the responses we have gotten from most of the countries is that they have indicated their interests to attend in person, not just sending their representatives,” he said.

Air Vice Marshal Amadi stressed that the Summit is being organised in conjunction with African Business Round Table as the consultant and partner for the event. 

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also supporting us while we are reaching out to other key stakeholders for support and partnership.

"Leveraging on this, let us join hands to make the Country the hub of defence and military centre of gravity in Africa while promoting a safe and secure African Continent. "he added

He emphasised that the hosting of the Summit is a testament to the leadership role Nigeria plays in Africa. 

Executive Director, African Business Roundtable, Mr Dotun Ajayi, who is a consultant to the summit, explained that involvement of private sector in addressing insecurity was ripe, adding that security matters had gone beyond the military component alone.

He said that proffering solution to the security challenges was a shared responsibility, which, he said, required bringing the private sector into the mainstream of defence efforts.

“So, we need a public-private sector partnership. In this regard, we are looking at a broad range of spectrum of activities to support the military solution that we are looking at,” he said.