The Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Christopher Musa, has advocated the need for cattle ranching as part of measures to address the perennial conflicts between herders and farmers.

Musa stated this while addressing a news briefing in Abuja ahead of the maiden African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit aimed at strengthening continental security collaboration to address emerging threats.

He insisted that cattle ranching would address some of the security challenges bedevilling the African continent.

Musa said the killing of animals should be discouraged, adding that such animals could be arrested for better compensation for the damage done to their crops.

He emphasised that ranching has a lot of advantages for the owner of animals, hence it should be something that should be embraced without hindrances.

He said Nigerians must embrace ranching as part of efforts to fight insecurity, adding the old practice where there was understanding between farmers and herders had been eroded.

The CDS emphasised that ranching had alot of advantages to the owner of animals, hence should be something that should be embraced without hindrances.

The CDS condemned insinuation in some quarters that he was advocating for ranching, and therefore, asking the government to take people’s land.

He added that some people felt that we are encouraging the government to buy farms and ranching is a business.

He identified critical threats confronting Africa, including terrorism from Boko Haram, Al-Shabaab, and ISIS affiliates, rising banditry and kidnappings, piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, and emerging cyberattacks on defence systems.

The defence chief noted that the event, scheduled for 25th to 27th August, 2025, will provide African nations with a platform to sit down, look at their challenges, and proffer solutions as African brothers and sisters.

He said the theme of the summit is “Combating Contemporary Threats to Peace and Security in Africa”.

Musa said the Military is committed to doing “whatever it takes” to secure Nigeria and the African continent against emerging threats.

The Chief of Defence Staff said Nigeria had, over the years, demonstrated readiness to protect its sovereignty, support neighbours, and contribute to peace and stability efforts across the continent.

“Our goal is to strengthen rapid crisis response capabilities, establish joint training exercises, enhance intelligence sharing, and develop a unified continental strategy to address our security challenges,” he said.

The CDS emphasised the importance of solidarity, mutual respect, and cultural understanding among African nations, noting that Africa’s security was directly linked to its economic growth and development.

Musa commended President Bola Tinubu for his renewed commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s security posture and for supporting initiatives that promote regional peace and stability.

According to him, the summit is an opportunity to forge lasting partnerships, pool resources, and ensure that Africa is prepared to respond effectively to any crisis.

The Chief of Defence Staff stated that Nigeria is rebranding its Defence Industries Corporation to standardise local production of military equipment, strengthen national security, and enhance indigenous capacity.

Musa outlined reforms in Nigeria’s defence manufacturing sector, saying all defence-related manufacturing firms would now operate under the Defence Industries Corporation to ensure coordination and standardisation.

According to him, their operations would be subject to mandatory approval from the National Security Adviser and the Ministry of Defence.

He revealed that Nigeria had already started procuring armoured vehicles, drones, and other military assets from local companies such as ProForce and Imperium, while also refurbishing damaged equipment to extend service life.

“We want to synergise and harmonise their work, standardise it, and make sure the equipment we produce does not get into the wrong hands,” Musa said.

He noted that the initiative would not only enhance national security but also create jobs, support local innovation, and open up export opportunities to neighbouring countries.

On regional collaboration, Musa stressed the importance of joint efforts among African nations in tackling asymmetric threats, which he said “do not respect borders.”

He called for stronger cooperation through the African Standby Force and highlighted efforts to engage young Nigerian innovators in developing military-grade drones and weapon systems.