Nigeria, France strengthen defence cooperation to tackle insecurity

In a renewed push to enhance Nigeria’s security architecture through strategic international partnerships, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on Wednesday held high-level discussions with the French Defence Attaché to Nigeria, Colonel Stéphane Useo, at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.

The engagement, which took place on 4 February 2026, focused on deepening bilateral defence cooperation, particularly in intelligence sharing, professional military training and operational capacity building.

Speaking during the meeting, Lieutenant General Shaibu commended France for its longstanding support to the Nigerian Army, describing the partnership as critical to Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to confront diverse security challenges across the country and the wider West African region.

ALSO READ: U.S. Deploys Military Team to Nigeria as Security Cooperation Deepens

The COAS stressed that international collaboration remains a key component of Nigeria’s counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism strategies.

He reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to continuous professional development for its personnel, noting that structured training and knowledge exchange with strategic partners like France were essential to building a modern, highly professional force.

According to him, sustained bilateral engagement would further enhance the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Army in line with contemporary security realities.

Lieutenant General Shaibu expressed optimism that the relationship between both countries would continue to grow, particularly in the areas of advanced military training, specialised capacity building and technical support.

He emphasised that long-term cooperation with France would strengthen Nigeria’s ability to respond decisively to emerging threats and complex security situations.

Earlier in his remarks, Colonel Useo praised the resilience and professionalism of the Nigerian Army in tackling security challenges within Nigeria and beyond.

He particularly commended the Army’s recent recovery operations in the Republic of Benin, describing them as a testament to the growing operational capability of Nigerian troops.

The French Defence Attaché advocated expanded opportunities for Nigerian officers to access strategic professional military courses in France, especially in specialised fields such as public relations, aviation and information management.

He singled out the Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information as one of the best military training institutions in Africa, noting its critical role in shaping civil-military relations and enhancing information management capabilities within the Nigerian Army.

Colonel Useo reaffirmed France’s readiness to deepen defence cooperation with Nigeria, stressing that both nations share a common responsibility in promoting regional stability and combating transnational threats.

He described the partnership as mutually beneficial, adding that closer collaboration would help improve defence capabilities, professional standards and operational coordination between the two armed forces.

The meeting further explored avenues for joint training programmes, intelligence cooperation and enhanced interoperability between Nigerian and French military units.

Both sides agreed on the need to sustain regular strategic engagements to address evolving regional and global security challenges.

Defence analysts say the renewed engagement underscores Nigeria’s determination to leverage international partnerships in strengthening its military capacity and securing its territorial integrity.

With insurgency, banditry and other forms of criminality still posing serious threats, officials believe that closer cooperation with established global partners like France will play a crucial role in restoring peace and stability.

The Army Headquarters described the meeting as another milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to build strong, enduring defence alliances in support of national and regional security objectives.