Nigeria, France Strengthen Defence Collaboration

The Nigerian Army and its French counterpart have deepened defence collaboration against terrorism and other threats.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on 4 February 2026, and the French Defence Attaché to Nigeria, Colonel Stéphane Useo, made the commitments at the Army Headquarters, Abuja.

Lieutenant General Shaibu commended France for its continued collaboration with the Nigerian Army, particularly in intelligence sharing, professional military training, and support for operational readiness.

The Army Chief, in a statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, noted that such partnerships remain critical to Nigeria’s broader efforts to counter security threats within the region.

The COAS reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to continuous professional development across all corps and emphasised the importance of sustaining mutually beneficial bilateral defence cooperation.

He expressed optimism that a long-term partnership with France, while focusing on capacity building, advanced training and enhanced operational effectiveness, is in line with the contemporary security realities.

Earlier in his remarks, Colonel Stéphane Useo highlighted the Nigerian Army’s resilience and dedication in addressing emerging security challenges.

He particularly commended the Army’s successful recovery operations in the Republic of Benin and advocated expanded access to strategic professional military courses, especially in Public Relations and Aviation.

He affirmed that the Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information is one of the best institutions in Africa, established to train Army personnel in civil-military affairs and to enhance information and communication management.

Colonel Useo reiterated France’s commitment to deepening defence cooperation with Nigeria, emphasising shared responsibility in promoting regional stability, countering emerging threats and building sustainable military capacity.

He described the partnership as mutually reinforcing, enhancing the defence capabilities and professional standards of both nations.

The high-level engagement focused on strengthening operational cooperation between the Nigerian Army and the French Armed Forces to address evolving regional and global security challenges.