At the 13th Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, Rwanda (held May 13–15, 2026), President Bola Tinubu delivered a sharp rebuttal to those questioning Nigeria’s regional standing. Addressing a global audience of private sector leaders and policymakers, he emphasized that Nigeria remains the bedrock of stability in West Africa and beyond.
​Speaking during a session titled “Holding the Line: Nigeria’s Reform Bet in a Fractured World,” Tinubu dismissed the notion that domestic challenges had weakened Nigeria’s ability to project power.
“People might think, because of the narrow path of the challenges that we face today, we are empty,” Tinubu stated. “Nigeria’s military muscle is there.”
He specifically highlighted a recent, previously unpublicized “quick action” to stabilize the Benin Republic against “intruders.” He noted that the response was “quick and fast,” executed without the need for external consultation, demonstrating Nigeria’s readiness to act unilaterally to protect its borders and neighbors.
Tinubu also credited Nigeria with playing a pivotal role in stabilizing the Sudan crisis. This follows the deployment of 171 specialized Nigerian troops in 2025 to the Abyei region and ongoing diplomatic leadership within the African Union to prevent the conflict from spilling further into the Sahel.
​The President’s comments align with a broader 2026 foreign policy shift toward “Strategic Autonomy.”
Tinubu’s message in Kigali was clear about economic reforms and military strength are two sides of the same coin. By asserting Nigeria’s role as a “regional policeman,” he sought to reassure the private sector that West Africa remains a secure environment for the “scale” required for industrial growth.
This shift marks a departure from more cautious diplomacy. By framing Nigeria’s military as “active and ready,” Tinubu is signaling to both neighbors and global powers that Nigeria intends to lead African security efforts with less reliance on Western intervention.
