The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has called for deeper regional security cooperation and stronger defence partnerships among ECOWAS member states to tackle emerging security threats across West Africa.
Shaibu made the call on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, when the Chief of Staff, ECOWAS Standby Force, Brigadier General Sheik Massaquoi, led a delegation on a courtesy visit to Army Headquarters, Abuja.
He said the transnational nature of terrorism, violent extremism and organised crime requires collective action, urging regional military leaders to leverage shared expertise, intelligence and operational experience to develop practical responses to emerging threats.
The COAS also stressed the need for sustained military-to-military cooperation through intelligence sharing, joint training and exercises, regular dialogue, and harmonised doctrines to enhance interoperability and operational readiness.
Shaibu reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to Nigeria’s regional security obligations and pledged continued support for efforts to strengthen the ECOWAS security architecture.
Earlier, Massaquoi commended Nigeria’s contributions to regional peacekeeping and security, calling for continued support to make the ECOWAS Standby Force more proactive, interoperable and responsive through updated doctrines, joint exercises and stronger defence partnerships.
