The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on Monday, 26 October 2026, attended the opening ceremony of the African International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) 2026 in Lagos.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on 26 October 2026 by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele.
According to the statement, the COAS joined African leaders, senior military officials and defence industry stakeholders to explore innovative solutions to the continent’s evolving security challenges.
The event brought together key policymakers, military leaders, security experts and defence manufacturers, including the representative of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, and the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to promote defence innovation, strengthen strategic partnerships and advance Africa’s collective security interests.
AFRIDEX 2026 provides a strategic platform for showcasing emerging defence technologies, promoting indigenous defence production, facilitating technology transfer and deepening collaboration among African countries and international defence partners. The exhibition also seeks to encourage coordinated responses to transnational threats, asymmetric warfare and other emerging security challenges confronting the continent.
The COAS’s participation underscores the Nigerian Army’s commitment to enhancing operational readiness, accelerating capability development and leveraging technological innovation to improve mission effectiveness. It also highlights the importance of strategic partnerships, knowledge exchange and indigenous defence manufacturing in building a responsive and self-reliant military capable of addressing contemporary security threats.
The exhibition features defence equipment displays, strategic engagements and live demonstrations, providing opportunities for military institutions and industry stakeholders to explore innovative technologies, strengthen partnerships and advance collaborative approaches to defence and security.
Nigeria’s participation reinforces the importance of sustained regional and international cooperation in developing effective responses to shared security threats and building a more secure, stable and resilient Africa.