CDS Holds Bilateral Talks with Poland, US, Italy, Other Countries at AFRIDEX 2026
CDS Holds Bilateral Talks with Poland, US, Italy, Other Countries at AFRIDEX 2026
CDS Holds Bilateral Talks with Poland, US, Italy, Other Countries at AFRIDEX 2026
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, has held a series of high-level diplomatic and bilateral meetings with foreign military leaders and defence officials at the ongoing African International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) 2026 in Lagos.
The engagements are aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s defence partnerships, promoting military cooperation and improving collective responses to emerging security challenges.
Among those received by Oluyede were the Ambassador of Poland to Nigeria, Mr Michał Cygan, and military delegations from Italy, Guinea-Bissau, the Kingdom of Eswatini, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United States Africa Command (US AFRICOM).
During the meeting with the Polish ambassador and a delegation of defence industry executives, discussions focused on possible collaboration in defence technology, equipment acquisition and capacity development.
The CDS also met General Dagvin Anderson, Commander of US AFRICOM; General Luciano Portolano, Chief of Defence Staff of the Italian Armed Forces; Lieutenant General Ibrahima Sory Bangoura, Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of Guinea-Bissau; General Hulumende Fakudze, Commander of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force; and Brigadier General Mohammed Sultan Yousef Al Nuaimi of the UAE.
The meetings provided opportunities to discuss shared security interests, professional military education, capacity building, defence technology transfer and operational cooperation.
Discussions with the US AFRICOM commander centred on sustaining the existing strategic partnership between Nigeria and the United States. The engagement with Italy focused on expanding cooperation in military training, maritime security and specialised capabilities, including police training.
The meeting with Guinea-Bissau reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to regional stability, respect for national sovereignty and defence capacity development. Engagements with Eswatini and the UAE also explored ways to deepen strategic defence relations, promote defence industry cooperation and address transnational and emerging security threats.
General Oluyede emphasised the importance of sustained military-to-military dialogue and mutually beneficial partnerships in improving operational effectiveness and promoting regional and global peace and stability.
The engagements reaffirm the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s commitment to defence diplomacy and strategic partnerships that advance the country’s national security interests and contribute to peace and security in Nigeria, Africa and the world.
CDS Holds Bilateral Talks with Poland, US, Italy, Other Countries at AFRIDEX 2026
