President Bola Tinubu has rejected the use of private military contractors in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, affirming that the country will never outsource its core security responsibilities to foreign forces.

Speaking on Monday at the first plenary session of the 7th African Union–European Union (AU–EU) Summit, Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, warned that the rise of private security firms across Africa undermines state institutions and complicates peace efforts.

“We stand resolutely against the use of private military and security companies in African conflicts, as their presence often complicates resolution efforts and undermines state sovereignty,” Shettima conveyed.

Tinubu emphasised that coordinated, state-led action is the most effective approach to tackling terrorism, organized crime, and violent threats. He cited Nigeria’s involvement in ECOWAS and AU peace missions and the Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad Basin as successful examples of African-led security cooperation.

The president also highlighted Nigeria’s Sea-Lift Agreement with the AU Standby Force, enhancing rapid deployment for peace and humanitarian operations, and warned that foreign-designed solutions rarely succeed without African participation.

Addressing global security governance, Tinubu called for Africa to occupy permanent UN Security Council seats, including veto powers, stressing that contemporary global realities require inclusive decision-making.

On migration, he cautioned against criminalizing movement, advocating structured labour mobility schemes to enable young Africans to contribute meaningfully to Europe under regulated pathways.

The summit, co-chaired by Angola’s President João Lourenço and European Council President António Costa, is focused on security, migration, trade, and governance, providing a platform for African-European collaboration on shared challenges.