The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening international military cooperation and regional partnerships to tackle insecurity across Africa.
General Oluyede made the commitment while leading Nigeria’s delegation to the 2026 African Chiefs of Defence Conference (ACHOD), held in Luanda, Angola, from June 30 to July 2, 2026.
In a statement issued by the Director Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, the conference was hosted by the United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM) in collaboration with the Angolan Armed Forces. The three-day gathering brought together senior military leaders from across Africa and international partners to deliberate on pressing security challenges, innovation, and economic development as key drivers of continental stability.
The conference, regarded as Africa’s premier defence forum, focused on countering transnational threats, combating disinformation, promoting responsible use of emerging technologies such as drones, and strengthening collaborative security frameworks capable of supporting long-term peace and economic growth.
Speaking during the conference, General Oluyede stressed the importance of building “a resilient and adaptive security architecture capable of responding to current and emerging threats to secure Africa’s future.”
He identified enhanced regional intelligence sharing, revitalised security systems, integrated border management, stronger defence partnerships, and coordinated efforts to disrupt terrorism financing as critical measures for addressing Africa’s evolving security landscape.
The Chief of Defence Staff also commended the bilateral defence partnership between Nigeria and the United States, describing it as a model that has significantly improved the operational effectiveness of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and contributed positively to regional counterterrorism efforts.
On the sidelines of the conference, General Oluyede held bilateral meetings with fellow Chiefs of Defence and key international partners to deepen cooperation against security threats that transcend national borders.
The Armed Forces of Nigeria reaffirmed their commitment to regional partnerships, intelligence sharing, and joint military operations as essential tools for combating violent extremism, drug trafficking, and other transnational crimes.
The military leadership added that Nigeria would continue to leverage platforms such as the African Chiefs of Defence Conference to strengthen international collaboration, improve interoperability among African militaries, and advance peace, stability, and security across West Africa and the African continent.
