By Bavoriat Clara
Nigeria and France have taken steps to further strengthen their defence relationship as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, received the French Defence Attaché to Nigeria, Colonel Stéphane Useo, at the Army Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, 4 February 2026.
The high-level engagement underscored Nigeria’s resolve to tackle prevailing security challenges through sustained international defence collaboration and strategic partnerships. Lieutenant General Shaibu commended France for its continued support and cooperation with the Nigerian Army, particularly in the areas of intelligence sharing, professional military training and enhancement of operational readiness.
According to a statement issued by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the COAS noted that such partnerships remain critical to Nigeria’s broader efforts to counter security threats within the region. He reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to continuous professional development across all corps, stressing the importance of sustaining mutually beneficial bilateral defence cooperation.
Lieutenant General Shaibu expressed optimism that a long-term partnership with France, with emphasis on capacity building, advanced training and improved operational effectiveness, would further strengthen the Nigerian Army in line with contemporary security realities.
Earlier, Colonel Stéphane Useo praised the resilience and professionalism of the Nigerian Army in addressing emerging security challenges. He particularly commended the Army’s successful recovery operations in the Republic of Benin and advocated expanded access for Nigerian personnel to strategic professional military courses, especially in the areas of Public Relations and Aviation.
The French Defence Attaché described the Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information as one of the best institutions in Africa for training personnel in civil-military relations and effective information and communication management.
Colonel Useo reiterated France’s commitment to deepening defence cooperation with Nigeria, emphasizing a 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 countries.
The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to strengthening operational cooperation between the Nigerian Army and the French Armed Forces in response to evolving regional and global security challenges.
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