By Iroyin Yoruba Television
Nigeria has called for a stronger, better-funded and more self-reliant African peace and security system, urging countries across the continent to take greater responsibility for preventing conflicts and responding to emerging threats.
The appeal was made by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, during a two-day Consultative Forum on Strengthening the Functional Performance of the African Union Peace and Security Architecture in Abuja.
The forum brought attention to the need for stronger cooperation among African governments and institutions as the continent confronts terrorism, transnational organised crime, political instability and other security challenges that frequently cross national borders.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu argued that Africa needed more predictable and sustainable financing for peace operations, stronger early-warning mechanisms and better coordination among regional and continental institutions.
She also highlighted the importance of implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution 2719, which establishes a framework for United Nations financing of African Union-led peace support operations under specified conditions.
According to Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the forum is intended to generate practical recommendations on strengthening the African Union's peace and security arrangements, with attention to conflict prevention, mediation, counter-terrorism and peace support operations.
The Nigerian government's position reflects a longstanding diplomatic concern: African countries frequently face security crises that require substantial financial and operational resources, yet many continental initiatives depend on external partners to sustain their activities.
The challenge is to build a system in which African institutions can respond more effectively to crises while maintaining cooperation with the United Nations and other international partners.
WHY NIGERIA IS ADVOCATING STRONGER AFRICAN COOPERATION
Nigeria's call comes against the background of security challenges affecting several parts of Africa.
Terrorist organisations, armed groups, trafficking networks and other criminal actors can operate across national borders, making it difficult for any single country to address the full scope of a threat independently.
Instability in one country can also place pressure on neighbouring states through population displacement, disruptions to trade, cross-border criminal activity and increased demand for humanitarian assistance.
These challenges create a need for cooperation involving governments, regional organisations, intelligence agencies, diplomatic institutions and international partners.
For Nigeria, stronger African security cooperation is relevant to both national and regional interests. The country participates in continental and regional diplomacy and has historically contributed to African peacekeeping and conflict-management efforts.
However, participation in international operations requires more than political declarations. Missions need funding, trained personnel, logistical support, equipment and clear arrangements for coordination.
When resources are uncertain, operations may struggle to maintain personnel, move supplies or sustain deployments over extended periods.
Nigeria's latest appeal therefore focuses on strengthening the institutional and financial foundations of African-led security efforts.
The underlying argument is that African countries should have a greater capacity to identify emerging threats, prevent conflicts and respond when diplomatic measures are insufficient.
That does not mean Africa should isolate itself from international cooperation. Rather, Nigeria is advocating a model in which African institutions have stronger capabilities and a more dependable financial foundation while continuing to work with the United Nations and other partners.
THE AFRICAN UNION'S PEACE AND SECURITY ARCHITECTURE
The African Union's Peace and Security Architecture is the continental framework through which member states and AU institutions work to prevent, manage and resolve conflicts.
It encompasses mechanisms and institutions concerned with early warning, diplomacy, mediation, peace support operations and broader efforts to maintain stability.
The architecture is designed to help African countries respond collectively to situations that threaten peace and security.
Its effectiveness depends on whether member states can agree on common priorities, share information, mobilise resources and implement decisions.
Conflict prevention is particularly important because responding after violence has escalated can be more expensive and difficult than addressing tensions before they develop into full-scale crises.
Early-warning systems can help identify political tensions, emerging violence and other indicators of instability. However, information alone does not prevent conflict. Institutions must have the authority, resources and political support required to act on warnings.
Mediation and preventive diplomacy can provide opportunities to resolve disagreements before they lead to violence.
Where a crisis becomes more serious, regional and continental institutions may need to coordinate diplomatic pressure, sanctions where appropriate, peace support arrangements or other responses agreed by member states.
The architecture's success therefore depends on the connection between information, political decisions, funding and implementation.
Nigeria's participation in the Abuja consultative forum reflects its interest in improving that connection and strengthening the capacity of African institutions to deliver practical results.
WHY SUSTAINABLE FUNDING IS CENTRAL TO THE DEBATE
One of the central issues raised by Odumegwu-Ojukwu was the need for predictable and sustainable financing for African-led peace operations.
Peace support missions require substantial resources. These may include personnel, transport, communications equipment, medical services, accommodation, logistics and other operational requirements.
Funding is also necessary to prepare and deploy personnel, maintain equipment and sustain operations after a mission begins.
When financing is unpredictable, mission planners may find it difficult to make reliable commitments or maintain operations over time.
Countries contributing personnel may also face financial pressure if reimbursements or other arrangements are delayed.
African institutions consequently face a challenge when they must respond to urgent crises without having dependable resources available for the full duration of an operation.
Nigeria's position is that continental security efforts need funding arrangements that allow African institutions to plan and act more effectively.
The African Union has developed mechanisms intended to strengthen African ownership of peace and security activities, including the AU Peace Fund.
However, the scale and duration of security challenges can exceed the resources available through continental funding arrangements.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu called for African funding mechanisms to be complemented by international financial commitments, including structured support from the United Nations.
This approach recognises that African ownership and international partnership do not necessarily have to be competing objectives.
African countries can maintain leadership over regional priorities while working with international institutions to provide resources that support agreed missions.
The central question is how to create a reliable funding model that supports effective operations while ensuring accountability, transparency and compliance with the relevant rules.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 2719
Nigeria also highlighted the importance of implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution 2719.
Adopted in December 2023, the resolution establishes a framework through which United Nations assessed contributions can support eligible African Union-led peace support operations, subject to the conditions and arrangements specified by the Security Council.
The resolution was intended to address longstanding concerns about the financial sustainability of African-led missions and the difficulties associated with relying primarily on voluntary contributions.
Under the framework, qualifying AU-led operations can potentially receive support through UN financing arrangements, subject to the relevant decisions, planning requirements and accountability safeguards.
The resolution does not mean that every African security operation automatically receives United Nations funding.
Eligibility, authorisation, operational planning, reporting and other requirements remain important parts of the process.
Its significance is that it provides a potential mechanism for sharing the financial burden of authorised peace support operations while preserving a leading role for African institutions.
Nigeria's call for full operationalisation reflects the view that the framework must be translated into effective practice if it is to improve the sustainability of African-led missions.
The issue is particularly relevant where operations require substantial resources over long periods and where the absence of predictable funding can undermine planning.
Successful implementation would still require cooperation between the African Union, the United Nations, contributing countries and other relevant stakeholders.
It would also require clear financial controls to ensure that resources are used for their intended purposes and that the missions supported under the framework remain accountable.
OPERATIONALISING THE AFRICAN STANDBY FORCE
Another priority highlighted by Nigeria was the need to make the African Standby Force fully operational.
The African Standby Force is a continental arrangement intended to provide the African Union with a framework for deploying trained personnel in support of authorised peace and security activities.
Its development reflects the recognition that African institutions need the ability to respond to crises without having to create every operational arrangement from scratch.
The force depends on preparations involving member states and regional mechanisms, including the identification and readiness of personnel and the coordination of supporting capabilities.
But having personnel designated for a standby arrangement does not automatically mean that a mission can be deployed immediately.
Effective deployment requires planning, transport, communications, logistics, equipment, command arrangements and the financial resources necessary to sustain an operation.
Countries must also be prepared to make the required personnel and capabilities available when a deployment is authorised.
Nigeria's appeal for full operationalisation is therefore connected to the wider question of whether African institutions can turn agreed security frameworks into practical responses.
A standby arrangement is most valuable when its personnel and supporting systems can be mobilised according to established procedures.
The operational readiness of the African Standby Force also depends on cooperation between the African Union and the regional organisations that play roles in preparing and coordinating participating capabilities.
The goal is to improve the continent's ability to respond to crises in a coordinated manner while respecting the relevant political decisions and legal frameworks.
THE ROLE OF REGIONAL ORGANISATIONS
Africa's peace and security arrangements involve both continental institutions and regional organisations.
Regional bodies can be important because neighbouring countries often share security concerns, trade routes, population movements and other interests that require close coordination.
Regional organisations may have better access to local information and established relationships among member states that can assist in identifying and addressing emerging problems.
They can also provide mechanisms for mediation, diplomatic engagement and coordination during crises.
However, the relationship between regional and continental institutions must be managed carefully.
Overlapping responsibilities, disagreements about political priorities and shortages of resources can complicate collective responses.
Clear coordination arrangements can help institutions understand their respective roles, share relevant information and avoid unnecessary duplication.
Nigeria's call for stronger coordination reflects the need for African countries and institutions to work through an organised system rather than relying on disconnected initiatives.
The challenge is to establish arrangements that allow regional bodies to respond to local circumstances while maintaining coherence with broader African Union objectives.
Such coordination is particularly important when a crisis affects several countries or requires resources that no single state can provide independently.
EARLY WARNING AND PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY
Nigeria also highlighted the importance of mediation, preventive diplomacy and early-warning mechanisms.
Preventive diplomacy involves diplomatic efforts to stop disagreements or emerging tensions from developing into more serious crises.
It may involve direct negotiations, mediation, confidence-building measures or other forms of engagement designed to address the concerns of the parties involved.
Early-warning systems can support these efforts by identifying developments that may indicate an increased risk of conflict.
Such information may come from political developments, reports of violence, population movements, economic pressures or other indicators of instability.
However, effective early warning requires institutions to act on the information they receive.
A warning system that identifies a serious risk but cannot trigger timely diplomatic engagement has limited practical value.
Preventive diplomacy also requires political willingness. Parties must be prepared to engage, and mediators need sufficient credibility and support to help move discussions forward.
Nigeria's position is that stronger early-warning and mediation capabilities should form part of a more effective continental security framework.
The approach places emphasis on preventing violence where possible rather than relying exclusively on military responses after a crisis has escalated.
Preventive diplomacy cannot resolve every conflict, but it can provide opportunities to reduce tensions and address disputes before they become more difficult to manage.
COUNTER-TERRORISM AND TRANSNATIONAL CRIME
The forum also identified counter-terrorism as one of the priorities requiring stronger continental cooperation.
Terrorist networks and transnational criminal groups can exploit gaps between national jurisdictions. Their activities may involve the movement of weapons, money, people or other resources across borders.
A country may be able to disrupt activity within its own territory but still face challenges when networks operate from neighbouring states or use international routes.
This makes cooperation among governments and security institutions important.
Joint approaches may involve information sharing, border coordination, law-enforcement cooperation, financial investigations and diplomatic engagement.
However, cooperation must operate within the relevant legal frameworks and respect the responsibilities of participating states.
Security efforts also need to address the conditions that can contribute to instability, including weak institutions, economic exclusion and unresolved local disputes.
A purely military response may be insufficient where a conflict is sustained by wider political, economic or social factors.
Nigeria's call for a stronger African security architecture therefore relates to the broader capacity of countries to coordinate their responses while improving prevention and institutional effectiveness.
The aim is to make continental cooperation more capable of addressing threats that cross borders and cannot be resolved by isolated national actions.
WHAT THE FORUM COULD DELIVER
The Abuja consultative forum is intended to generate recommendations for improving the functioning of the African Union's peace and security arrangements.
Its four priority areas include mediation and preventive diplomacy, early warning and response, counter-terrorism, and peace support operations.
These areas are closely connected.
Early-warning systems can identify risks, while preventive diplomacy provides opportunities to address them. Where violence escalates, counter-terrorism cooperation and peace support arrangements may become necessary.
Funding and coordination affect every stage of this process.
The forum's value will therefore depend on whether participants can identify practical reforms and establish a path towards implementation.
Recommendations may be useful, but they must ultimately be translated into decisions, resources and institutional action.
Member states will need to agree on priorities and determine which reforms can be implemented through existing mechanisms and which require additional political or financial commitments.
The African Union and its partners will also need to clarify responsibilities, timelines and arrangements for monitoring progress.
Nigeria has expressed optimism that the discussions will produce actionable recommendations capable of strengthening continental security institutions.
The outcome will need to be assessed through the decisions that follow the forum, rather than the meeting alone.
NIGERIA'S DIPLOMATIC INTERESTS
Nigeria's advocacy for a stronger African peace and security system reflects its broader interest in regional stability.
As a major West African country, Nigeria has economic, diplomatic and security interests that extend beyond its borders.
Instability in neighbouring countries can affect trade, migration, border management and the security environment in the wider region.
A stronger continental response could help African countries coordinate their efforts and reduce reliance on fragmented arrangements.
Nigeria also has an interest in ensuring that African priorities receive appropriate attention within international institutions.
Its support for sustainable financing of African-led operations reflects the view that the continent should have a stronger role in determining how its security challenges are addressed.
At the same time, the country must balance its diplomatic ambitions with its own domestic needs and the financial resources available for international commitments.
Effective participation in continental initiatives requires careful decisions about funding, personnel, diplomatic engagement and the expected benefits of cooperation.
The Abuja forum provides an opportunity for Nigeria to articulate its position and engage other African stakeholders on the reforms it considers necessary.
Whether that position influences wider policy will depend on the willingness of participating governments and institutions to agree on concrete steps.
CONCLUSION
Nigeria has called for a stronger and more financially sustainable African peace and security system, with greater emphasis on conflict prevention, coordinated action and African leadership.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu made the appeal at the Abuja Consultative Forum on Strengthening the Functional Performance of the African Union Peace and Security Architecture.
Her remarks highlighted the need for predictable financing, the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2719, stronger early-warning and mediation systems, and the full operationalisation of the African Standby Force.
The proposals reflect a wider diplomatic challenge facing African countries: building institutions capable of responding to security crises while maintaining cooperation with international partners.
The forum's ultimate significance will depend on whether its recommendations lead to practical decisions, reliable funding and stronger coordination among the institutions responsible for peace and security.
For Nigeria, the immediate priority is to turn calls for reform into workable arrangements that help African countries prevent conflicts and respond more effectively when crises occur.