By President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR
Being the speech of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, at the Opening Ceremony of the 5th Meeting of the Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum, held in Maiduguri, Borno State, on January 29, 2025.
Protocols…
The Lake Chad region is not at ease, and neither should we be. This promised land of opportunity, which binds together the destinies of nations, has been challenged in ways that defy our shared history. Over the past decade and a half, the chain of events disrupting the stability of this region reminds us of why we need one another more than ever. These challenges demand that we wield power responsibly to guarantee the safety and prosperity of our people. I am delighted to join this quest for a collective and objective response.
2. The successes we have recorded in repelling threats to our borders and sovereignty by non-state actors owe much to the joint missions we have embarked on. These hard-won victories are a testament to the strength of our cooperation. As such, the guarantee of peace must remain paramount, even when domestic politics or policies seek to undermine the nobility of our agreements to serve the people.
3. We must not allow the geopolitical tensions across the world to sow discord among us, nor should we permit ourselves to become tools in any proxy agenda. The salvation of the Lake Chad region is neither in Europe nor in the Americas. It lies in the hands of all those gathered here today. You, distinguished representatives of this forum, embody not only our collective will to protect the region but also the transformative potential that stability brings.
4. The true enemy remains the non-state actors—those who exploit weak borders, poor governance, and fragile economies to challenge our claim to civilization. However, the worst threat we may face is not the insurgents or terrorists at odds with our humanity. It is the absence of cooperation, sincerity, and fidelity to our shared pact as brothers’ keepers. We undermine this pact when we renege on agreements to secure our borders, when misinformation and falsehoods breed mistrust, and when we jeopardise the freedom and choices of our people.
5. Yes, the region has been severely threatened by Boko Haram and the so-called Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP). Yet, none of these groups stands a chance against the collective strength of the state, let alone a multinational arrangement such as ours. Together, we hold the power to shield the defenceless and protect innocent lives—the very foundation of our humanity and wellbeing.
6. Every part of the world is grappling with its own unique challenges. As conflicts rage and governance struggles intensify, global military expenditure has reached a historic $2.4 trillion in 2023, with no signs of slowing. These figures reflect the resurgence of hard power and the fractures deepening in our international order. But let us not forget that hard power, detached from the moral imperatives of justice and diplomacy, only widens the very divides it seeks to bridge.
7. Your Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, our response to these threats must be multifaceted. While military solutions are indispensable, they must be complemented by strategies that address the root causes of insecurity—poverty, inequality, and the lack of opportunities for our youth.
8. It is a tragic irony that Africa, a continent with the youngest population in the world, sees its youth become cannon fodder for destructive ideologies and the drivers of conflict. This is the challenge before us: to transform this demographic dividend into a force for good. Power’s true essence lies not in its possession but in its application. Hard power may secure borders, but it is soft power—through diplomacy, culture, and shared values—that builds bridges and binds us together.
9. This is the vision that the Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum seeks to pursue. Whether through our collective commitment to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) or our contributions to advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, we must adopt partnerships that benefit us all. The choices we make today will echo through generations, shaping the future of this region.
10. On this note, I hereby declare open the 5th Meeting of the Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum. May our deliberations be fruitful, our resolutions bold, and our actions transformative.
11. Thank you, and may God bless us all.
