Defence Chief Oluyede Seeks Enhanced Intelligence Sharing to Combat Insecurity Across Africa
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening regional and international military cooperation to address terrorism, violent extremism and other transnational security threats across Africa.
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.
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 enhancing peace, stability and economic development on the continent.
ACHOD serves as a strategic platform for African defence chiefs to address common security threats, strengthen regional cooperation and explore collaborative approaches to fostering long-term security and economic growth.
This year’s conference focused on combating transnational threats, countering disinformation and promoting the responsible use of emerging technologies, including drones, in modern military operations.
Speaking during a high-level session, Oluyede stressed the need for Africa to develop a resilient and adaptive security architecture capable of addressing both current and emerging threats.
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He called for stronger regional intelligence cooperation, improved integrated border management, revitalised security institutions and enhanced defence partnerships, while emphasising the importance of disrupting terrorism financing and external support networks sustaining extremist groups.
The Chief of Defence Staff also highlighted the benefits of the longstanding 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 strengthened regional counterterrorism efforts.
On the sidelines of the conference, Oluyede held bilateral meetings with several African Chiefs of Defence and international partners to deepen military cooperation against transnational threats, which he noted transcend national borders.
The Defence Headquarters said Nigeria remains committed to strengthening regional partnerships, intelligence sharing and joint military operations as critical components of efforts to combat terrorism, violent extremism, drug trafficking and other cross-border crimes.
It added that Nigeria would continue to leverage platforms such as the African Chiefs of Defence Conference to promote interoperability, enhance international collaboration and advance peace and security across West Africa and the African continent.This version is written in a balanced, newsroom style, removes the promotional tone of the press release, improves flow and structure, and presents the information in a publication-ready format.
By PRNigeria
