The outgoing and incoming Chairmen of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff have sought sustained Nigerian support for regional security cooperation as the committee transitions to new leadership.
Desk: Defence & Security
Date: 13 October 2026
Time: 17:23 WAT
Location: 📍Abuja, Nigeria
The two defence chiefs made the appeal during a courtesy visit to Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, at Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, following two days of formal handover activities for the committee’s leadership.
The outgoing chairman, Sierra Leone’s Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Amara Bangura, expressed appreciation for Nigeria’s continued support to the committee and the wider West African security architecture throughout his tenure.
According to a statement issued by the Director, Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, Bangura commended Nigeria’s leadership in promoting regional security and stability, recalling its historical support to Sierra Leone during the civil war and subsequent peace consolidation efforts, as well as its wider contributions through peacekeeping, counter-terrorism cooperation and logistics support.
Lieutenant General Bangura appealed to General Oluyede to extend the same support and goodwill to his successor to sustain cooperation in the interest of regional peace.
The incoming chairman, Senegal’s Chief of Defence Staff, Vice Admiral Oumar Wade, appreciated the Nigerian CDS for the reception and hospitality.
He highlighted the security challenges confronting the ECOWAS region, including terrorism, violent extremism, transnational organised crime and maritime insecurity, and called for Nigeria’s continued guidance, support and active participation to enable the committee to fulfil its mandate.
Nigeria Reaffirms Commitment to Regional Security
Responding, General Oluyede appreciated the visiting chiefs for their remarks about Nigeria and its Armed Forces, describing the visit as a demonstration of solidarity and shared purpose among ECOWAS member states.
He called for stronger brotherhood, cohesion and unity of purpose across the sub-region, urging member states to set aside differences, political divergences and bilateral issues to confront common security threats collectively. The CDS stressed that security was indivisible and that no country could secure itself in isolation, underscoring the need for coordinated action among regional partners.
General Oluyede assured the visiting chiefs that Nigeria would continue supporting ECOWAS security initiatives in line with its commitment to regional peace, integration and development. He also pledged Nigeria’s full support for Wade’s tenure as chairman, expressing confidence in continued cooperation to strengthen the region’s collective security mechanism.
🏷️ Tags: ECOWAS Defence Chiefs, General Olufemi Oluyede, Amara Idara Bangura, Oumar Wade, West African Security, Zig Diaries Press Release
#ZigPressRelease #ZigDiariesDefence #ECOWAS #RegionalSecurity #DefenceHeadquarters
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