The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission is participating in the Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX), being held from 26 to 30 October 2026 in Lagos, Nigeria. The event brings together political leaders, defence policymakers, military commanders, defence industry representatives, researchers and security experts from across Africa and beyond.
The opening ceremony was held under the auspices of Nigeria’s President, H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, who was represented by the President of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio. Other dignitaries in attendance included the Minister of Defence, the Minister of State for Defence, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, service chiefs, senior government officials, and serving and retired military leaders.
In their remarks, the Nigerian authorities reaffirmed their commitment to promoting peace and security across the continent. They stressed the importance of stronger defence cooperation in addressing evolving threats, including terrorism, violent extremism, transnational organised crime, maritime insecurity and cyber threats.
Delivering the keynote address at the opening ceremony, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. General Birame Diop, thanked President Tinubu for his steadfast commitment to regional peace, security and integration. General Diop described AFRIDEX as a timely demonstration of Nigeria’s longstanding leadership in these areas. He noted that the exhibition comes at a critical time, amid a complex security landscape, a rapidly changing geopolitical environment and constraints on access to defence equipment, critical technologies and military capabilities. He therefore stressed the need to build resilience, self-reliance and indigenous defence capabilities to respond effectively to evolving threats.
The Commission President also highlighted ongoing efforts by the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff to deepen regional defence cooperation, strengthen defence-industrial collaboration and explore innovative approaches to financing peace and security initiatives. He said efforts to activate the ECOWAS Standby Force to combat terrorism reflect the region’s commitment to collective action, operational readiness and self-reliance in addressing contemporary security challenges.
General Diop concluded by calling for support for initiatives such as AFRIDEX and the work of institutions such as the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).
AFRIDEX serves as a strategic platform for promoting defence cooperation, strengthening indigenous defence manufacturing, showcasing emerging security technologies and fostering military-industrial partnerships. It also encourages collaborative responses to security challenges across Africa, alongside innovation, knowledge exchange and investment in defence capabilities that contribute to regional peace, stability and sustainable development.
