By Harriet Tornguvan -Abuja
Nigeria and France have reaffirmed their commitment to deeper defence collaboration as part of ongoing efforts to tackle insecurity and enhance regional stability.
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.
During the meeting, Lieutenant General Shaibu praised France for its sustained support to the Nigerian Army, particularly in intelligence sharing, professional military training and initiatives aimed at improving operational readiness.
In a statement issued by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the COAS stressed that such international partnerships remain vital to Nigeria’s broader strategy of countering security threats across the region.
Shaibu reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to continuous professional development across all corps, noting that sustained bilateral cooperation with France would further strengthen capacity building, advanced training and operational effectiveness in line with modern security realities.
Colonel Useo, in his remarks, commended the resilience and dedication of Nigerian troops in responding to emerging security challenges.
He specifically applauded the Army’s successful recovery operations in the Republic of Benin and called for expanded access to strategic professional military courses, particularly in public relations and aviation.
The French envoy also described the Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information as one of Africa’s leading institutions for training personnel in civil-military relations and information management.
Colonel Useo reiterated France’s commitment to deepening defence cooperation with Nigeria, emphasizing the shared responsibility of both nations in promoting regional stability, countering evolving threats and building sustainable military capacity.
The engagement, officials said, underscores the growing operational cooperation between the Nigerian Army and the French Armed Forces in response to changing regional and global security challenges.
