The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, has called on African militaries to strengthen practical collaboration in tackling the continent’s growing security challenges.

Speaking at the opening of the inaugural African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit (ACDSS) in Abuja on Monday, Musa warned that Africa is facing increasingly complex threats, including terrorism, transnational organised crime, piracy, cyber warfare, and climate-related conflicts.

“The threats confronting us are borderless, asymmetric, and digital. Africa must rise with equally dynamic responses built on unity, shared intelligence, and joint operations,” he said.

Musa stressed that no single country can successfully confront these challenges in isolation. He urged African defence leaders to move beyond dialogue and commit to concrete action through joint cyber defence, counterterrorism strategies, intelligence sharing, and the establishment of an indigenous African defence-industrial base.

Highlighting Nigeria’s contributions, the CDS noted the country’s active role in peacekeeping, counterterrorism, and humanitarian missions, pledging continued collaboration with partners across the continent to strengthen regional security.

He also paid tribute to fallen soldiers, saying their sacrifices should inspire African nations to build militaries that are strong, accountable, and people-centred.

The summit marks the first gathering of Africa’s defence chiefs, aimed at building stronger cooperation and unified strategies to address shared security threats.