Nigeria and France have taken fresh steps to strengthen defence collaboration as part of broader efforts to enhance national and regional security, with senior military officials from both countries meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, received the French Defence Attaché to Nigeria, Colonel Stéphane Useo, at the Army Headquarters, where discussions focused on deepening bilateral military cooperation and addressing evolving security threats.
During the engagement, Lieutenant General Shaibu restated the Nigerian Army’s commitment to sustained professional development across all formations, stressing that long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships remain central to building a more capable and effective force. He expressed confidence that expanded cooperation with France would further strengthen capacity building, advanced training and operational efficiency in response to contemporary security challenges.
The army chief also acknowledged France’s continued support to the Nigerian Army, particularly in the areas of intelligence sharing, professional military education and operational assistance, describing such collaboration as critical to Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to tackle security threats within the region.
In his remarks, Colonel Stéphane Useo commended the Nigerian Army for its resilience and professionalism in confronting emerging security concerns, citing successful recovery operations conducted in the Republic of Benin as evidence of its growing operational effectiveness. He called for increased access to strategic professional military courses, especially in Public Relations and Aviation.
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Colonel Useo further praised the Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information, describing it as one of Africa’s leading institutions for training personnel in civil-military relations and information management.
Reaffirming France’s position, the French Defence Attaché emphasized his country’s commitment to expanding defence ties with Nigeria, underscoring the shared responsibility of both nations in fostering regional stability, countering new and evolving threats, and developing sustainable military capacity. He noted that the partnership remains mutually reinforcing, contributing to improved defence capabilities and higher professional standards for both armed forces.
The high-level meeting underscored a shared resolve by Nigeria and France to strengthen operational cooperation between their militaries as they respond to complex regional and global security challenges.
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