By Bavoriat Clara
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s unwavering commitment to strengthening its longstanding strategic partnership with Pakistan in addressing evolving security threats.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, following the COAS’s meeting with the Defence Adviser of Pakistan to Nigeria, Colonel Kamran Mushtaq, at Army Headquarters, Abuja.
Lieutenant General Shaibu underscored the depth and strategic importance of Nigeria–Pakistan bilateral military cooperation, identifying expanded opportunities in joint training, intelligence sharing, defence technology, and operational collaboration as key pillars for strengthening the collective security architecture. He noted that deepening engagement in these areas would enhance interoperability and significantly boost both armies’ capacity to counter emerging threats.
The Army Chief further praised the enduring relationship between the two militaries, highlighting their shared experiences in combating terrorism and insurgency. He stressed the importance of sustained capacity-building through professional military education, citing the advanced training Nigerian officers have received in Pakistan, as well as the planned participation of Pakistani officers at Nigeria’s National Defence College.
Lieutenant General Shaibu also emphasized that enhanced intelligence cooperation and strategic defence procurement remain critical to improving Nigeria’s operational readiness, technological advantage, and overall combat effectiveness.
In his remarks, Colonel Mushtaq conveyed the goodwill and warm greetings of Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir, while commending the Nigerian Army’s professionalism, resilience, and operational successes. Drawing on Pakistan’s more than two decades of counter-terrorism experience, he reaffirmed his country’s readiness to deepen collaboration through specialised training, technical support, and the provision of key enablers, including advanced surveillance and communication systems.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to joint professional military education and exchange programmes, noting their strategic importance in enhancing interoperability, operational synergy, and the collective capacity to address regional and transnational security challenges.
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