Odita Sunday 
Oluyede Seeks Stronger African Security Alliance at Defence Chiefs Conference
By Odita Sunday
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to stronger regional and international military cooperation to tackle terrorism, violent extremism and other transnational security threats across Africa.
General Oluyede made the pledge while leading Nigeria’s delegation to the 2026 African Chiefs of Defence Conference (ACHOD), held in Luanda, Angola, from June 30 to July 2.
According to Major General Samaila Uba, Director, Defence Information, the 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 discuss emerging security challenges and strategies for strengthening continental stability.
The forum focused on issues including innovation in military operations, economic development, counter-terrorism, disinformation and the responsible use of emerging technologies such as drones in modern warfare.
Addressing the conference, General Oluyede called for the development of what he described as “a resilient and adaptive security architecture capable of responding to current and emerging threats to secure Africa’s future.”
The Defence Chief stressed the need to strengthen regional intelligence-sharing, revitalise security institutions, improve integrated border management and deepen defence partnerships across the continent.
He also identified efforts to disrupt terrorism financing and international support networks for criminal groups as critical to addressing Africa’s security challenges.
General Oluyede commended the existing defence partnership between Nigeria and the United States, noting that the collaboration had significantly enhanced the operational effectiveness of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and contributed positively to regional security efforts.
On the sidelines of the conference, the CDS held bilateral meetings with fellow Chiefs of Defence and international partners to strengthen cooperation against transnational threats, which he noted “do not respect borders.”
According to Major General Uba, the Armed Forces of Nigeria reiterated its commitment to regional partnerships, intelligence sharing and joint military operations as key strategies for combating terrorism, violent extremism, drug trafficking and other cross-border crimes.
The military added that Nigeria would continue to leverage platforms such as the African Chiefs of Defence Conference to deepen international collaboration, improve interoperability among African armed forces and promote peace and security across West Africa and the continent.
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