The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed its institutional backing for Africa’s first-ever comprehensive Defence and Security Exhibition, scheduled to be hosted by Nigeria in 2026, described the event as a milestone for the continent’s defence, security and industrial development.
The exhibition, tagged the Africa International Defence and Security Exhibition (AFRIDECS), was unveiled during a courtesy visit by the AFRIDECS Steering Committee to the Nigeria Customs Service Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, 21 January 2026.
Leading the delegation, the Director-General of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), Major General Babatunde Alaya, said the 2026 exhibition will bring together military institutions, security agencies, government ministries, defence manufacturers and international partners from across the world.
He explained that AFRIDECS is designed to showcase Nigeria’s indigenous defence manufacturing capacity and technological innovations across land, sea, air, cyber and space domains, while also providing a global platform for the exchange of cutting-edge security solutions.
According to Major General Alaya, the exhibition is strategically positioned to become Africa’s premier defence and security showcase, reflecting Nigeria’s growing influence in defence industrialisation, regional security cooperation and strategic innovation. He added that a multi-agency Steering Committee constituted by Defence Headquarters is overseeing the planning and execution of the event.
Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs (DCG), Dera Nnadi, assured the Steering Committee of the Nigeria Customs Service’s readiness to play a critical facilitative and regulatory role in ensuring the success of AFRIDECS.
DCG Nnadi described the exhibition as not only a security-focused initiative but also a major economic, cultural and diplomatic opportunity for Nigeria, noting that the Service would facilitate legitimate trade while ensuring strict compliance with Customs regulations.
He further assured that the NCS would provide seamless Customs processes, particularly in the temporary importation of exhibition equipment, to guarantee smooth entry and exit without compromising national security standards.
Also speaking, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Enforcement, Inspection and Investigation, DCG Timi Bomodi, commended DICON for initiating what he described as a bold and strategic exhibition with far-reaching implications for national security and economic development.
DCG Bomodi noted that while the Nigeria Customs Service has extensive experience in handling international exhibitions, AFRIDECS is unique due to the sensitive nature of the items involved, which will largely consist of military hardware and defence equipment.
He stated that Customs would adopt simplified and transparent temporary importation procedures, provided all regulatory requirements are met, stressing the importance of advance notification, detailed documentation and the submission of End User Certificates to ensure accountability and compliance with national and international regulations.
The Africa International Defence and Security Exhibition, the first of its kind on the continent, is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s leadership in defence innovation, deepen international cooperation, unlock economic opportunities and reinforce the country’s national security architecture, with the Nigeria Customs Service positioned as a key enabler of the historic event.
