In an effort to address new security challenges in the West African subregion, the ECOWAS Commission has stated its willingness to enhance security cooperation with the Nigerian Defence Headquarters.
During a familiarisation visit to the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, November 12, 2026, Vise President Anthony Oluwatosin Ogunjimi of the ECOWAS Commission was informed of this by General Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).
While on the trip, Ogunjimi spoke highly of the AFN leadership and how they had helped bring stability to the region. He singled out Nigeria’s contributions to stabilisation and peacekeeping operations in Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and Liberia.
A key motivator behind ECOWAS’s endeavours to foster unity, stability, and peace among member states, he said, was Nigeria’s dedication to regional security.
The Defence Headquarters’ ongoing endeavours to safeguard Nigeria’s territorial integrity and contribute to larger regional security goals were also commended by the ECOWAS Vice President.
Additionally, he highlighted the Commission’s desire to deepen its cooperation with the Nigerian military by bolstering institutional engagement, collaborating on security, and launching collaborative efforts to tackle the changing dangers that West Africa is facing.
When asked about the increasing security threats to West African nations, Chief of Defence Staff General Olufemi Oluyede emphasised the importance of collective action and closer regional cooperation.
Cooperation, mutual trust, and a shared commitment among ECOWAS member states would be necessary to achieve sustained regional security, according to Oluyede.
In addition, he emphasised the need for ECOWAS member states to enhance their military-to-military contacts, collaborate more closely, and work together to accomplish the organization’s security goals.
Security concerns in West Africa, according to the CDS, are systemic and cross-border, necessitating enhanced operational collaboration, better information sharing, and coordinated tactics across member states.
In line with Nigeria’s foreign policy goals and its longstanding dedication to collective security, General Oluyede underlined the willingness of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to continue supporting regional peace and stability.
The agreement between the ECOWAS Commission and the Nigerian Defence Headquarters to enhance their strategic partnership and encourage a more unified response to security threats in the West African subregion was reaffirmed during the visit.