By Nworisa Michael
Nigeria and France have agreed to deepen their defence and military cooperation as part of efforts to address evolving security challenges across the region.
The agreement was reached on Tuesday during a meeting between the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, and the French Defence Attaché to Nigeria, Colonel Stéphane Useo, at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking during the engagement, Lt. Gen. Shaibu commended France for its continued support and collaboration with the Nigerian Army, particularly in areas of intelligence sharing, professional military training, and operational assistance. He described the partnership as critical to Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to counter contemporary and emerging security threats.
The Army Chief reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to sustained bilateral defence engagement, noting that the military is prioritising continuous professional development across all corps. He expressed optimism that long-term cooperation with France would further enhance capacity building, advanced training, and overall operational effectiveness.
According to him, strengthening international military partnerships remains vital given the current security realities facing Nigeria and the wider West African sub-region.
Earlier, the French Defence Attaché, Colonel Useo, praised the resilience and professionalism of the Nigerian Army in responding to complex security challenges. He referenced recent successful recovery operations involving Nigerian forces in the Republic of Benin as evidence of improved operational capability.
Colonel Useo also called for expanded access for Nigerian military personnel to strategic professional courses in France, particularly in public relations and aviation. He further commended the Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information, describing it as one of the leading institutions of its kind on the African continent.
He reaffirmed France’s commitment to strengthening defence ties with Nigeria, stressing that the partnership is a shared responsibility aimed at promoting regional stability and building sustainable military capacity.
The meeting focused on enhancing operational cooperation between the Nigerian Army and the French Armed Forces in response to evolving regional and global security threats.