By Joy Odor Reportcircle News
By 2026, Nigeria may no longer just be a consumer of global defence solutions, it is positioning itself as a convening power.
That signal was firmly sent on Tuesday, January 21, 2026, when the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) publicly threw its institutional weight behind Africa’s first-ever comprehensive Defence and Security Exhibition, a historic event Nigeria is set to host.
The endorsement came during a high-level courtesy visit by the Africa International Defence and Security Exhibition (AFRIDECS) Steering Committee to the Customs Headquarters in Abuja, an encounter that underscored the scale, ambition and strategic importance of the forthcoming exhibition.
Tagged AFRIDECS, the 2026 event is being framed as a turning point for Africa’s defence ecosystem, with Nigeria at its centre.
Leading the delegation was the Director-General of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), Major General Babatunde Alaya, who outlined an exhibition designed not merely as a showcase, but as a continental marketplace of ideas, technology and strategic partnerships.
According to Alaya, AFRIDECS will convene military institutions, security agencies, defence manufacturers, government ministries and international partners from across the globe bringing together land, sea, air, cyber and space capabilities under one roof.
At its core, the exhibition aims to spotlight Nigeria’s indigenous defence manufacturing capacity, while creating a platform for collaboration with global defence technology leaders.
“AFRIDECS is conceived to showcase indigenous capabilities and manufacturing, while leveraging the expertise and experience of international defence manufacturers,” Alaya said.
“It will be a convergence point for defence, security and technology stakeholders to exchange ideas and innovations.”
He noted that the exhibition has been strategically positioned to evolve into Africa’s premier defence and security showcase, reflecting Nigeria’s expanding footprint in defence industrialization, regional security cooperation and technological innovation.
Planning and execution, he disclosed, are being driven by a multi-agency Steering Committee constituted by Defence Headquarters.
For the Nigeria Customs Service, however, AFRIDECS represents more than a security event.
Speaking on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, Deputy Comptroller-General (DCG) Dera Nnadi described the exhibition as a multi-dimensional national opportunity—economic, cultural and diplomatic.
“This is beyond the security implications,” Nnadi said.
“For us in the Nigeria Customs Service, it is an economic opportunity, a cultural gain and a platform to project the best of Nigeria to the international community.”
He reaffirmed Customs’ readiness to serve as a critical facilitator and regulator, pledging seamless processes particularly around the temporary importation and exportation of exhibition equipment while maintaining strict national security standards.
The Service, he assured, would balance trade facilitation with compliance, ensuring ease of entry without regulatory compromise.
Also weighing in, DCG Timi Bomodi, who oversees Enforcement, Inspection and Investigation, commended DICON for what he described as a bold and strategic initiative with far-reaching implications for both national security and economic development.
Bomodi noted that while Customs has extensive experience managing international exhibitions, AFRIDECS stands apart due to the sensitivity of the items involved, primarily military hardware and defence equipment.
To address this, he said Customs would deploy simplified, transparent temporary importation procedures, provided all regulatory conditions are met.
He emphasised the necessity of advance notification, comprehensive documentation and End User Certificates to guarantee accountability and compliance with national and international frameworks.
As Africa’s first exhibition of its kind, AFRIDECS is expected to reshape perceptions of Nigeria’s defence capacity, deepen international partnerships, unlock new economic opportunities and reinforce the country’s national security architecture.
With the Nigeria Customs Service positioned as a key enabler, the 2026 exhibition is fast emerging not just as an event but as a statement of intent.
Nigeria is not just hosting Africa’s defence future. It is helping to define it.
