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Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting peace, security, democratic governance and regional integration across Africa as the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, received a high-level delegation of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) in Abuja.
The delegation, led by the Chairperson of the AU Peace and Security Council for June 2026 and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the African Union, Ambassador Nasir Aminu, alongside the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs following the conclusion of the Third Annual Joint Consultative Meeting between the AU Peace and Security Council and the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council held in Abuja.
Welcoming the delegation, Ambassador Enikanolaiye, in a statement by the Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, on Wednesday, thanked the visitors for congratulating him on his recent appointment and reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to the African Union’s objectives of peace, security, democracy, good governance and regional integration.
He described the AU Peace and Security Council as one of Africa’s most important institutions for conflict prevention, peacebuilding and political governance, stressing that Nigeria places the highest priority on the Council’s work.
The Minister also commended the growing collaboration between the AU Peace and Security Council and ECOWAS, noting that regular consultations have strengthened coordination between continental and regional institutions in addressing Africa’s evolving security challenges.
According to him, Nigeria has consistently enhanced its diplomatic engagement with the African Union through its Mission in Addis Ababa and remains committed to supporting initiatives that promote greater cooperation between the African Union, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and Regional Mechanisms.
Speaking on security challenges confronting the continent, Enikanolaiye observed that Africa continues to grapple with terrorism, violent extremism, transnational organised crime, unconstitutional changes of government and humanitarian crises.
He stressed the need for African institutions to deepen cooperation, strengthen governance frameworks and develop more effective mechanisms for conflict prevention and sustainable peacebuilding.
The Minister also expressed Nigeria’s concern over the recent xenophobic attacks against African nationals in South Africa, particularly Nigerians, describing the incidents as unacceptable and contrary to the ideals of African unity and solidarity.
He disclosed that, on the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Federal Government had evacuated affected Nigerians from South Africa through government-funded repatriation flights to ensure their safe return home.
Enikanolaiye urged the African Union to place the issue high on its peace and security agenda, insisting that Africans should feel safe anywhere on the continent.
He further advocated stronger implementation of the African Union’s free movement agenda while encouraging member states to address migration challenges through inclusive governance, economic development and expanded opportunities for citizens.
On financing African peace operations, the Minister reiterated Nigeria’s longstanding position that Africa must establish sustainable and predictable funding mechanisms to strengthen its peace and security architecture.
He warned that excessive dependence on external funding weakens African ownership of peace support operations and pointed to ECOWAS’ Community Levy as a successful model that could be adapted by the African Union.
Enikanolaiye also reaffirmed Nigeria’s support for the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2719 (2023), which provides a framework for financing African Union-led peace support operations, while urging African countries to increase their own financial contributions to peace and security initiatives.
Earlier, Ambassador Nasir Aminu briefed the Minister on the outcome of the Third Annual Joint Consultative Meeting between the AU Peace and Security Council and ECOWAS, saying participants reviewed emerging security threats across the continent, assessed ongoing peace initiatives and explored practical measures to strengthen cooperation between continental and regional institutions.
He added that discussions also focused on sustainable financing for peace support operations and the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2719.
Also speaking, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, commended Nigeria’s consistent leadership in promoting peace, stability and regional integration across Africa.
He praised Nigeria’s active role within the AU Peace and Security Council and reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to working closely with member states, ECOWAS and other regional economic communities to tackle the continent’s growing security challenges.
Adeoye also emphasised the importance of strengthening African ownership of peace operations through increased domestic financing, improved institutional coordination and stronger political commitment by member states.
He welcomed Nigeria’s continued leadership in advancing conflict prevention, democratic governance and the African Union’s “Silencing the Guns” agenda.
At the end of the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration among the African Union, ECOWAS and member states to promote peace, security, democratic governance and sustainable development across the continent, while agreeing to sustain regular consultations to address emerging security challenges.
