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

The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Commission has expressed its readiness to strengthen security cooperation with Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters as part of efforts to tackle emerging security threats across the West African sub-region.

The Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, Anthony Oluwatosin Ogunjimi, made this known on Thursday, November 12, 2026, during a familiarisation visit to the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, where he was received by the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Olufemi Oluyede.

During the visit, Ogunjimi praised the leadership of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, AFN, for its contributions to regional peace, security and stability. He particularly highlighted Nigeria’s role in peacekeeping and stabilisation missions in Liberia, Sierra Leone, The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau.

He described Nigeria’s commitment to regional security as a major driving force behind ECOWAS’ efforts to promote peace, stability and integration among member states.

The ECOWAS Vice President also applauded the Defence Headquarters for its continued efforts to protect Nigeria’s territorial integrity and contribute to broader regional security objectives.

He further expressed the Commission’s interest in expanding its partnership with the Nigerian military through stronger institutional engagement, security collaboration and joint initiatives to address evolving threats confronting West Africa.

Responding, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, stressed the need for stronger regional partnerships and collective action to overcome the growing security challenges facing West African countries.

Oluyede maintained that achieving lasting regional security would require cooperation, mutual trust and a common commitment among ECOWAS member states.

He also urged countries within the regional bloc to improve military-to-military relations, strengthen collaboration and work together towards achieving ECOWAS’ security objectives.

According to the CDS, security threats across West Africa are not limited to individual countries and therefore require coordinated strategies, effective intelligence sharing and improved operational cooperation among member states.

General Oluyede reaffirmed the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s readiness to continue supporting regional peace and stability in accordance with the country’s foreign policy objectives and longstanding commitment to collective security.

The visit underscored the shared commitment of the ECOWAS Commission and Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters to strengthening their strategic relationship and promoting a more coordinated approach to security challenges across the West African sub-region.