by George Ozalla
The Nigeria Customs Service has reaffirmed its institutional support for Africa’s first comprehensive Defence and Security Exhibition, scheduled to be hosted by Nigeria in 2026, as the country intensifies preparations to position itself as a continental hub for defence innovation and security collaboration.
The exhibition, known as the Africa International Defence and Security Exhibition, was formally unveiled during a courtesy visit by its Steering Committee to the Nigeria Customs Service Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, January 21, 2026. The delegation was led by the Director General of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, Major General Babatunde Alaya, who said the event would bring together military institutions, security agencies, government ministries, defence manufacturers and international partners from across the world.
Alaya explained that the exhibition is designed to showcase Nigeria’s indigenous defence manufacturing capacity and technological advancement across land, sea, air, cyber and space domains, while providing a platform for the exchange of modern security solutions between local and international stakeholders. He noted that the initiative reflects Nigeria’s growing role in defence industrialisation and regional security cooperation, adding that a multi agency Steering Committee constituted by Defence Headquarters is overseeing the planning and execution of the event.
Speaking on behalf of the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, the Deputy Comptroller General of Customs, Dera Nnadi, assured the delegation of the Service’s readiness to play a key facilitative and regulatory role in the success of the exhibition. He described the event as not only a security driven initiative but also an economic, cultural and diplomatic opportunity for Nigeria, stressing that the Service would ensure smooth Customs processes while maintaining strict regulatory compliance.
Nnadi further pledged that the Nigeria Customs Service would provide seamless procedures for the temporary importation of exhibition equipment to guarantee ease of entry and exit, without compromising national security standards.
Also speaking, the Deputy Comptroller General of Customs in charge of Enforcement, Inspection and Investigation, Timi Bomodi, commended the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria for initiating what he described as a strategic exhibition with wide ranging implications for national security and economic development. He noted that while Customs has experience handling international exhibitions, the defence exhibition presents unique regulatory demands due to the sensitive nature of military hardware and equipment involved.
Bomodi said Customs would apply simplified and transparent temporary importation procedures, subject to compliance with all regulatory requirements, and emphasised the need for advance notification, comprehensive documentation and End User Certificates to ensure accountability and adherence to national and international regulations.
The Africa International Defence and Security Exhibition is the first of its kind on the continent and is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s profile in defence innovation, deepen international cooperation, expand economic opportunities and reinforce the country’s national security framework, with the Nigeria Customs Service positioned as a critical enabler of the initiative.
