Odita Sunday 
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has engaged the French Defence Attaché to Nigeria, Colonel Stéphane Useo, in Abuja, as part of efforts to strengthen defence collaboration between both countries,
In a statement on Wednesday, the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele said the meeting, which held at the Army Headquarters on February 4, 2026, was aimed at advancing Nigeria’s efforts to tackle insecurity through sustained international defence cooperation.
She said Lieutenant General Shaibu commended France for its continued collaboration with the Nigerian Army, particularly in the areas of intelligence sharing, professional military training and support for operational readiness.
According to her, the COAS noted that such partnerships remained critical to Nigeria’s broader efforts to counter security threats within the region.
Anele said the Army Chief reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to continuous professional development across all corps and emphasized the importance of sustaining mutually beneficial bilateral defence cooperation.
She added that Shaibu expressed optimism about a long-term partnership with France focused on capacity building, advanced training and enhanced operational effectiveness in line with contemporary security realities.
Earlier in his remarks, Colonel Stéphane Useo highlighted the resilience and dedication of the Nigerian Army in dealing with emerging security challenges.
He particularly commended the Army’s successful recovery operations in the Republic of Benin and advocated expanded access to strategic professional military courses, especially in the areas of Public Relations and Aviation.
Anele said the French envoy affirmed that the Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information remained one of the best institutions in Africa for training personnel in civil-military relations and information communication management.
She added that Colonel Useo reiterated France’s commitment to deepening defence cooperation with Nigeria, stressing shared responsibility in promoting regional stability and building sustainable military capacity.
The Acting Director said the engagement focused on strengthening operational cooperation between the Nigerian Army and the French Armed Forces in response to evolving regional and global security challenges.
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