By Harriet Tornguvan
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed its institutional support for Africa’s first comprehensive Defence and Security Exhibition, slated to be hosted by Nigeria in 2026, a development expected to position the country as a continental hub for defence innovation, security collaboration and industrial growth.
The exhibition, known as the Africa International Defence and Security Exhibition (AFRIDECS), was formally unveiled during a courtesy visit by members of the AFRIDECS Steering Committee to the Nigeria Customs Service Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, January 21, 2026.
Leading the delegation, the Director-General of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), Major General Babatunde Alaya, disclosed that the 2026 event would attract military institutions, security agencies, government ministries, defence manufacturers and international partners from across the world.
Major General Alaya explained that AFRIDECS is designed to showcase Nigeria’s indigenous defence manufacturing capacity and technological innovation across land, sea, air, cyber and space domains, while also serving as a global platform for the exchange of advanced security solutions.
According to him, the exhibition is strategically positioned to emerge as Africa’s premier defence and security showcase, reflecting Nigeria’s expanding role 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, Dera Nnadi, reaffirmed the readiness of the Service to play a key facilitative and regulatory role in ensuring the success of the exhibition.
DCG Nnadi described AFRIDECS as more than a security initiative, noting that it also presents significant economic, cultural and diplomatic opportunities for Nigeria.
He assured the Steering Committee that the Nigeria Customs Service would provide seamless Customs processes, particularly in the temporary importation of exhibition equipment, to guarantee smooth entry and exit procedures without compromising national security standards.
Also speaking, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Enforcement, Inspection and Investigation, 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 Service has extensive experience in handling international exhibitions, AFRIDECS is unique due to the sensitive nature of the items involved, which will largely comprise 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 need for advance notification, comprehensive documentation and the submission of End User Certificates to ensure accountability and compliance with national and international regulations.
AFRIDECS, the first of its kind on the African continent, is expected to enhance Nigeria’s profile as a leader in defence innovation, deepen international cooperation, unlock economic opportunities and strengthen the nation’s security architecture, with the Nigeria Customs Service positioned as a critical enabler of its success.
