The Nigerian Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has held talks with the French Defence Attaché to Nigeria, Colonel Stéphane Useo, in Abuja, as both countries seek stronger cooperation in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.

The meeting took place on Wednesday at the Army Headquarters and focused on enhancing operational collaboration between the Nigerian Army and the French Armed Forces in response to evolving security threats at both regional and global levels.

During the discussions, Shaibu commended France for its continued support of the Nigerian Army, particularly in areas such as intelligence sharing, professional military training, and operational preparedness. He described the partnership as vital to Nigeria’s wider efforts to tackle insecurity within the region.

According to a statement issued by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the Army Chief reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to ongoing professional development across all its formations.

Shaibu also stressed the need to sustain strong and mutually beneficial defence ties, expressing confidence that long-term cooperation with France—especially in capacity building, advanced training, and improved operational effectiveness—remains relevant to current security realities.

In his remarks, Colonel Useo praised the Nigerian Army for its resilience and determination in confronting emerging security threats. He highlighted the Army’s successful recovery operations in the Republic of Benin and called for expanded opportunities for Nigerian personnel to access professional military training, particularly in public relations and aviation.

Colonel Useo also described the Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information as one of the leading institutions of its kind in Africa, noting its role in training personnel in civil-military relations and information management.

He reaffirmed France’s commitment to strengthening defence cooperation with Nigeria, stressing the shared responsibility of both countries in promoting regional stability, countering emerging threats, and building sustainable military capacity.