TICAD9: Tinubu lauds military as Japanese PM pledges $5.5bn support for Africa

President Bola Tinubu has lauded the Nigerian Armed Forces for their successes in the war against insurgency and criminality in the country.

Tinubu also stressed his administration’s commitment to addressing the root causes of insecurity through strengthening the government security apparatus and ongoing economic reforms.

The president said this at the plenary session on Peace and Stability at the 9th meeting of the Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama, Japan, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025.

He described the current momentum in the Nigerian Armed Forces as a springboard for national development and stability.

Tinubu emphasised the ongoing investments in infrastructure, institutional reforms, and collaboration with civil society and international partners to improve the living standards of all Nigerians.

“Nigeria’s 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 was quoted as saying in a statement issued by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga.

Tinubu stressed the essence of peace and stability to meaningful development, lamenting that conflicts are still ongoing in many African countries despite some progress.

However, he highlighted recent peace pacts brokered in the Congo as evidence that a new model of mediation and economic considerations can yield success.

He added: “We should be under no illusions about the scale of our task. But neither should we underestimate the successes we have had.

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“In the past, competition for resources has weakened states and triggered conflict. Now, we see mediators directly linking outcomes to investment in Congo. It is working and underlines the need for fresh thinking in everything we do to deliver peace and stability.”

Tinubu also appealed for market-driven cooperation and partnerships across nations rather than the hackneyed appeals for aid and handouts.

The president called on the Japanese government to support the campaign for reforms in the United Nations’ organs, especially the United Nations Security Council, to give African countries a greater voice.

Tinubu said: “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.

“Indeed, Africa deserves two seats in the Permanent Category, with all its prerogatives and privileges, including the Right of Veto. Africa also deserves additional seats in the non–permanent seat category of the Security Council, as encapsulated in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration.”

Also speaking at the event, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba emphasised the importance of mutual understanding, local solutions, and collaborative efforts for Africa’s development.

The prime minister outlined Japan’s focus on private sector-led sustainable growth, youth and women empowerment, and regional integration.

Ishiba also announced a collaborative economic framework between Japan and the African Development Bank that will see a maximum of $5.5 billion disbursed to Africa, utilising Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) private sector investment finance as a catalyst.

Ishiba emphasised that locally rooted solutions are essential for Africa’s development, saying: “Japan is providing various cooperation and support for Africa.

“But first of all, Japan needs to know more about Africa. So, in creating solutions together, this co-creation at the TICAD 9, we focus on three important areas: private sector-led sustainable growth, Youth and Women, and Regional integration and connectivity within and beyond Africa.”

He also appealed to African countries to assist Japan as it grapples with the challenges of a declining population and shrinking agricultural land.

The Star