The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has called for deeper regional security cooperation and stronger defence partnerships among ECOWAS member states to address emerging security threats across West Africa.
Lieutenant General 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 in Abuja.
The COAS said the increasingly complex and transnational nature of terrorism, violent extremism and organised crime requires greater collaboration among countries in the region.
He stressed that no single country can effectively tackle cross-border security challenges in isolation, urging regional military leaders to leverage their collective experience and expertise to develop practical responses to emerging threats.
Lieutenant General Shaibu also advocated sustained military-to-military cooperation through intelligence sharing, regular dialogue, joint training and exercises, as well as the harmonisation of military doctrines.
According to him, such measures would enhance interoperability, operational readiness and the ability of regional forces to respond collectively to security threats.
The Army Chief reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to supporting regional security initiatives and strengthening the ECOWAS security architecture.
Earlier, Brigadier General Massaquoi commended Nigeria for its longstanding contributions to peacekeeping and regional security.
He called for the transformation of the ECOWAS Standby Force into a more proactive, interoperable and responsive regional security capability.
Massaquoi identified updated military doctrines, enhanced joint training and stronger defence partnerships as key to improving the force’s operational effectiveness.
He also solicited Nigeria’s continued support in strengthening the capacity of the ECOWAS Standby Force to fulfil its mandate of promoting collective security, peace and stability across West Africa.
