The Nigerian Army has reaffirmed its commitment to regional peace and security, with Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu calling for stronger defence cooperation, intelligence sharing and joint military training with Sierra Leone and other West African countries.
Lieutenant General Shaibu made the call on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, when he received the Chief of Defence Staff of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Amara Idara Bangura, at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.
A statement issued by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, disclosed that the Army Chief emphasised Nigeria’s historic role in regional peace support operations and the need for sustained military cooperation to address emerging security threats.
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Lieutenant General Shaibu recalled Nigeria’s contributions to peace enforcement and peace support operations in Liberia and Sierra Leone under the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG), noting that Nigerian troops made significant sacrifices towards restoring stability during periods of conflict.
He stressed that Nigeria’s military experience and strategic position placed a responsibility on the country to continue supporting regional security through counterterrorism operations, military capacity building and multinational cooperation.
The COAS called for stronger defence partnerships among ECOWAS member states, through intelligence sharing, joint training and improved operational coordination against transnational threats.
He also expressed concern over the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger from ECOWAS and the emergence of the Alliance of Sahel States, urging sustained diplomatic engagement and strategic cooperation to preserve regional cohesion and counter terrorism and violent extremism.
Lieutenant General Shaibu congratulated Lieutenant General Bangura on the successful completion of his tenure as Chairman of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff, commending his contributions to regional military cooperation.
He reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to strengthening bilateral defence relations and supporting collective security initiatives.
In his response, Lieutenant General Bangura acknowledged Nigeria’s intervention in restoring peace to Sierra Leone during its civil war and expressed appreciation for the sacrifices of Nigerian troops.
Recalling his military training in Nigeria, the Sierra Leonean defence chief described the relationship between both countries as a strategic partnership built on shared history, mutual trust and a common commitment to regional peace.
He reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s solidarity with Nigeria in addressing contemporary security challenges and pledged to sustain military cooperation among Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Liberia, including efforts to honour veterans of regional peace support operations.
