The Chief of Army Staff (CoAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has called for deeper strategic cooperation between the Nigerian Army (NA) and the United States Army to more effectively address Nigeria’s increasingly complex security challenges.
According to Acting Director Army Public Relations Colonel Appolonia Anele, Lieutenant General Shaibu made the call on Wednesday, 14 January 2026, during a courtesy visit by the United States Defence Attaché to Nigeria, Lieutenant Colonel Semira Moore, at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.
The CoAS commended the Government of the United States for its enduring partnership and sustained support to the Nigerian Army, noting that the collaboration has significantly strengthened the Army’s professional and institutional capacity. He disclosed that both he and several Principal Staff Officers of the Nigerian Army are alumni of prestigious United States professional military institutions, underscoring the depth and long-standing impact of the bilateral military relationship.
He stressed that the Nigerian Army is keen to leverage the United States Army’s vast experience in both kinetic and non-kinetic operations, advocating for expanded cooperation in areas such as operational effectiveness, institutional capacity building, doctrine development and strategic capability enhancement. According to him, international military partnerships remain vital in complementing Nigeria’s internal security framework and advancing sustainable peace and stability.
In her remarks, Lieutenant Colonel Moore expressed appreciation for the cordial and mutually beneficial relationship between the two armies, reaffirming her commitment to strengthening existing ties while exploring new areas of collaboration. She identified capacity building, intelligence sharing and joint operational planning as priority areas for further engagement.
The Defence Attaché also disclosed that the United States remains committed to supporting the Nigerian Army in critical non-kinetic areas, including humanitarian assistance and troop welfare initiatives, which she described as essential to sustaining morale and operational effectiveness in ongoing operations.
