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From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has commended France for boosting the operational readiness of the Nigerian Army, with intelligence sharing, professional military training among other support.
Gen. Shaibu, who made this known when he received the French Defence Attaché to Nigeria, Colonel Stéphane Useo, in his office at the Army Headquarters, Abuja, noted that such partnerships remain critical to Nigeria’s broader efforts to counter security threats within the region.
The COAS, who reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to continuous professional development across all corps, noted the importance of sustaining mutually beneficial bilateral defence cooperation.
He expressed optimism that a long-term partnership with France while focusing on capacity building, advanced training and enhanced operational effectiveness is line with the contemporary security realities.
Earlier in his remarks, Colonel Stéphane Useo, who commended the resilience and dedication of the Nigerian Army in dealing with emerging security challenges, also commended the Army’s successful recovery operations in the Republic of Benin and advocated expanded access to strategic professional military courses especially in the area Public Relations and Aviation.
The Defence Attachee described the Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information as one of the best institutions in Africa established to train Army personnel in civil military related affairs and enhanced information communication management.
He also reiterated France’s commitment to deepening defence cooperation with Nigeria, emphasizing 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 nations.
The high-level engagement focused on strengthening operational cooperation between the Nigerian Army and the French Armed Forces in response to evolving regional and global security challenges.
