Nigeria, France Deepen Military Cooperation to Tackle Insecurity as COAS Hosts French Defence Attaché
Nigeria and France have taken further steps to deepen defence cooperation aimed at tackling evolving security challenges, as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on Tuesday received the French Defence Attaché to Nigeria, Colonel Stéphane Useo, at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting, held on February 4, 2026, underscored Nigeria’s commitment to leveraging sustained international partnerships to enhance national and regional security through capacity building, intelligence sharing and professional military training.
Lieutenant General Shaibu commended France for its longstanding collaboration with the Nigerian Army, particularly in the areas of intelligence exchange, operational support and professional military education. He noted that such cooperation remains vital to Nigeria’s broader counter-insecurity strategy, given the complex and transnational nature of contemporary security threats.
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The Army Chief reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s dedication to continuous professional development across all corps and formations, stressing that mutually beneficial bilateral defence partnerships are essential to maintaining operational effectiveness. He expressed optimism that a strengthened long-term partnership with France would further enhance capacity building, advanced training and overall military readiness in line with present-day security realities.
Earlier, Colonel Useo praised the resilience and professionalism of the Nigerian Army in addressing emerging security challenges, highlighting its successful recovery operations in the Republic of Benin as a testament to its growing operational competence.
The French Defence Attaché also advocated expanded access for Nigerian Army personnel to strategic professional military courses, particularly in the fields of Public Relations and Aviation. He described the Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information as one of the leading institutions in Africa for training personnel in civil-military relations and strategic information management.
Colonel Useo reiterated France’s commitment to further strengthening defence cooperation with Nigeria, emphasizing the shared responsibility of both nations in promoting regional stability, countering emerging threats and building sustainable military capacity. He described the partnership as mutually reinforcing, with benefits that enhance the defence capabilities and professional standards of both armed forces.
The high-level engagement focused on expanding operational cooperation between the Nigerian Army and the French Armed Forces in response to evolving regional and global security dynamics.
By PRNigeria
