The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening international collaboration, regional partnerships, and intelligence sharing as critical measures for addressing evolving security threats across Africa.
According to an official statement signed by the Director Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, General Oluyede led Nigeria’s delegation to the 2026 African Chiefs of Defence Conference (ACHOD), held in Luanda, Angola, from June 30 to July 2, 2026.
The three-day conference, hosted by the United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM) in collaboration with the Angolan Armed Forces, brought together senior military leaders from across Africa and international partners to deliberate on pressing security challenges, including the role of innovation and economic development in promoting peace and stability on the continent.
The statement noted that ACHOD serves as the continent’s premier forum for defence chiefs to discuss shared security concerns, strengthen regional cooperation, and explore collaborative frameworks that support long-term security, investment, and economic growth.
Discussions at this year’s conference focused on countering transnational threats, tackling disinformation, and promoting the responsible use of emerging technologies, including drones, in modern military operations.
During Nigeria’s intervention, General Oluyede called for the establishment of a resilient and adaptive African security architecture capable of responding effectively to both current and emerging threats.
“Africa must build a resilient and adaptive security architecture capable of responding to current and emerging threats to secure Africa’s future,” the Chief of Defence Staff said.
He stressed the importance of strengthening regional intelligence-sharing mechanisms, revitalising security institutions, enhancing integrated border management, investing in strategic defence partnerships, and disrupting terrorism financing and external support networks as essential components of the continent’s security strategy.
General Oluyede also commended the bilateral defence partnership between Nigeria and the United States, noting that the collaboration has significantly enhanced the operational effectiveness of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and contributed positively to regional counterterrorism efforts.
On the sidelines of the conference, the Chief of Defence Staff held bilateral meetings with fellow Chiefs of Defence and key international partners aimed at deepening cooperation against security threats that transcend national boundaries.
The Armed Forces of Nigeria reiterated their commitment to leveraging regional and international platforms such as ACHOD to strengthen interoperability, enhance intelligence sharing, and promote joint operations in the fight against violent extremism, terrorism, drug trafficking, and other transnational crimes threatening peace and stability across West Africa and the African continent.
