By Nkechi Eze
Nigeria and France have taken further steps to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation, 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, Abuja, to explore enhanced collaboration for improved national and regional security.
The high-level engagement, held on Tuesday, 4 February 2026, underscored Nigeria’s determination to leverage sustained international partnerships to address evolving security challenges and boost operational effectiveness across theatres of operation.
In an official signed statement, the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, said Lieutenant General Shaibu commended France for its consistent support to the Nigerian Army, particularly in the areas of intelligence sharing, professional military training and assistance aimed at improving operational readiness.
The COAS noted that such collaboration remains critical to Nigeria’s broader counterterrorism and counterinsurgency efforts, stressing that no single nation can effectively confront contemporary security threats in isolation.
He reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to continuous professional development across all corps and formations, while emphasizing the importance of sustaining mutually beneficial bilateral defence cooperation with France.
Lieutenant General Shaibu expressed optimism that a long-term partnership anchored on capacity building, advanced training and enhanced operational effectiveness would further strengthen the Nigerian Army in line with present-day security realities.
According to him, the Army will continue to prioritise engagements that expose its personnel to best practices, modern doctrines and emerging technologies that can improve battlefield performance and strategic planning.
Earlier in his remarks, the French Defence Attaché, Colonel Stéphane Useo, commended the resilience, professionalism and dedication of the Nigerian Army in confronting complex security challenges across the country.
He particularly praised the Army’s successful recovery operations in the Republic of Benin, describing them as a demonstration of Nigeria’s growing operational reach and professionalism.
Colonel Useo also advocated expanded access for Nigerian Army personnel to strategic professional military education courses in France, with particular emphasis on Public Relations and Aviation, as part of efforts to broaden technical competence and leadership capacity.
He further described the Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information as one of the best institutions in Africa for training military personnel in civil-military relations and modern information and communication management, highlighting its relevance in today’s information-driven security environment.
Reiterating France’s commitment to deepening defence cooperation with Nigeria, Colonel Useo emphasised the shared responsibility of both countries in promoting regional stability, countering emerging threats and building sustainable military capacity.
He described the partnership as mutually reinforcing, noting that stronger collaboration would continue to enhance the defence capabilities and professional standards of both the Nigerian Army and the French Armed Forces.
The engagement concluded with both sides expressing readiness to strengthen operational cooperation and sustain dialogue, as Nigeria and France work together to respond effectively to evolving regional and global security challenges.
