Nigeria and France have agreed to deepen defence collaboration to enhance security and strengthen operational capacity, 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.
The engagement, which took place on Tuesday, focused on advancing bilateral military cooperation as part of Nigeria’s broader strategy to address insecurity through sustained international partnerships.
Lieutenant General Shaibu commended France for its continued support of the Nigerian Army, particularly in the areas of intelligence sharing, professional military training and operational readiness. He noted that such collaboration remains vital to Nigeria’s efforts to counter security threats within the country and across the region.
The COAS reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to continuous professional development across all corps, stressing the importance of maintaining mutually beneficial defence relations with France. He expressed optimism that a long-term partnership centred on capacity building, advanced training and improved operational effectiveness would align with contemporary security realities.
In his remarks, Colonel Useo praised the resilience and dedication of the Nigerian Army in responding to emerging security challenges. He specifically commended the Army’s 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 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 information management.
Colonel Useo reiterated France’s commitment to strengthening defence cooperation with Nigeria, emphasising a shared responsibility to promote regional stability, counter emerging threats and build sustainable military capacity. He described the partnership as mutually reinforcing, enhancing the defence capabilities and professional standards of both countries.
