The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has called for stronger regional defence cooperation and indigenous defence manufacturing to address growing security threats and reduce constraints in accessing military equipment, critical technologies and capabilities.

President of the ECOWAS Commission, General Birame Diop, said the changing geopolitical environment and increasingly complex security challenges made it necessary for West African countries to build resilience, self-reliance and indigenous defence capabilities.

Diop made the call while delivering a keynote address at the Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX), which opened in Lagos on October 26 and runs until October 30.

He described the exhibition as a timely demonstration of Nigeria’s longstanding leadership in advancing regional peace, security and integration, while commending President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to the ECOWAS regional peace and security agenda.

Tinubu was represented at the opening ceremony by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.

Diop identified terrorism, violent extremism, transnational organised crime, maritime insecurity and cyber threats among the security challenges confronting African countries, stressing the importance of developing local defence capabilities to respond to them.

He said the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff was working to deepen regional defence cooperation, strengthen defence-industrial collaboration and explore innovative approaches to financing peace and security initiatives.

The ECOWAS Commission president also highlighted ongoing efforts to activate the ECOWAS Standby Force for the fight against terrorism, saying the initiative reflected the region’s commitment to collective action, operational readiness and self-reliance.

He called for support for AFRIDEX and institutions such as the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), noting their importance to the development of indigenous defence capabilities.

AFRIDEX, holding from October 26 to 30, is bringing together political leaders, defence policymakers, military commanders, defence industries, researchers and security experts from Africa and beyond. It is focused on promoting defence cooperation, indigenous manufacturing, emerging security technologies and military-industrial partnerships.

At the opening ceremony, Nigerian authorities reaffirmed the country’s commitment to promoting peace and security across the continent, highlighting stronger defence cooperation as necessary to confront evolving threats.

Other dignitaries at the ceremony included the Minister of Defence, the Minister of State for Defence, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, service chiefs, senior government officials and serving and retired military officers.