ECOWAS Commission moves to strengthen security cooperation with Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission has demonstrated its commitment to bolstering security collaboration with Nigeria's Defence Headquarters as part of its strategy to confront emerging security challenges throughout the West African sub-region. During a visit to the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on November 12, 2026, ECOWAS Vice President Anthony Oluwatosin Ogunjimi commended the Nigerian Armed Forces for their contributions to regional peace, security, and stability.

He highlighted Nigeria's active participation in peacekeeping and stabilization missions in countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau, and emphasized Nigeria's dedication to regional security as a key factor driving ECOWAS's efforts to foster peace, stability, and integration among member states.

The ECOWAS Vice President also acknowledged the Defence Headquarters' ongoing efforts to safeguard Nigeria's territorial integrity and contribute to broader regional security objectives. He expressed ECOWAS' interest in deepening its partnership with the Nigerian military through enhanced institutional engagement, security collaboration, and joint initiatives aimed at addressing evolving threats facing West African nations.

In response, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, stressed the necessity of strengthening regional partnerships and collective action to overcome the increasing security challenges confronting West African countries. Oluyede emphasized that achieving lasting regional security necessitates cooperation, mutual trust, and a common commitment among ECOWAS member states.

He also urged the ECOWAS member countries to improve military-to-military relations, enhance collaboration, and work together to achieve ECOWAS' security objectives.

General Oluyede affirmed Nigeria's Armed Forces' readiness to continue supporting regional peace and stability in line with the country's foreign policy goals and its long-standing commitment to collective security. The visit by the ECOWAS Commission underscored the shared determination of the Commission and Nigeria's Defence Headquarters to strengthen their strategic relationship and promote a more coordinated approach to security challenges across the West African sub-region.