In a strategic effort to bolster Nigeria’s response to insecurity, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, met with the French Defence Attaché to Nigeria, Colonel Stéphane Useo, at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.
The engagement, disclosed in a statement by Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, highlighted ongoing collaboration between Nigeria and France in intelligence sharing, professional military training, and operational support.
Lieutenant General Shaibu commended France for its continued partnership, emphasizing that such cooperation is vital for countering security threats across the region. He reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to continuous professional development across all corps while stressing the importance of sustaining bilateral defence collaboration.
“The long-term partnership with France, focusing on capacity building, advanced training, and enhanced operational effectiveness, aligns with contemporary security realities,” Shaibu said.
Colonel Useo praised the resilience and dedication of the Nigerian Army, particularly its successful recovery operations in the Republic of Benin. He also advocated for expanded access to professional military courses in areas such as Public Relations and Aviation, highlighting the Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information as one of Africa’s leading institutions for training personnel in civil-military relations and information management.
He reiterated France’s commitment to deepening defence cooperation, emphasizing shared responsibility in promoting regional stability, countering emerging threats, and building sustainable military capacity. Colonel Useo described the partnership as mutually reinforcing, enhancing the defence capabilities and professional standards of both nations.
The high-level meeting focused on strengthening operational cooperation between the Nigerian Army and the French Armed Forces to address evolving regional and global security challenges.
