COAS Seeks Stronger Regional Security Cooperation to Counter Emerging Threats
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has called for deeper regional security cooperation and stronger defence partnerships among Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member states to confront the increasingly complex security threats confronting the West African subregion.
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.
The COAS said the transnational and interconnected nature of contemporary threats, including terrorism, violent extremism and organised crime, had made it imperative for countries in the region to strengthen collective security mechanisms.
He stressed that no country could effectively tackle such threats in isolation, urging West African nations to leverage their collective military expertise, operational experience and shared understanding of the regional security environment.
According to him, closer cooperation among military leaders would not only enhance the capacity of regional forces to respond to emerging threats but also enable them to provide sound and actionable professional advice to political authorities on issues affecting regional peace and stability.
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Shaibu identified sustained military-to-military engagement, intelligence sharing, joint training and exercises, as well as the continuous review and harmonisation of military doctrines, as critical components of an effective regional security architecture.
He noted that these measures would improve interoperability, operational readiness and the ability of regional forces to plan and respond collectively to contemporary security challenges.
The COAS reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to Nigeria’s regional security obligations and assured the delegation of continued support for initiatives designed to strengthen the ECOWAS security architecture.
He maintained that a responsive regional security framework was essential to protecting populations, sustaining peace and creating the stable environment required for development across West Africa.
Earlier, Massaquoi commended the Nigerian Army for its warm reception and acknowledged Nigeria’s longstanding contributions to peacekeeping, regional security and defence cooperation across West Africa.
He called for the transformation of the ECOWAS Standby Force into a more proactive, interoperable and responsive regional security capability capable of addressing evolving threats.
Massaquoi identified updated military doctrines, enhanced joint training and exercises, and stronger defence partnerships among member states as essential to achieving the objective.
He also solicited Nigeria’s continued support for efforts to enhance the operational effectiveness of the ECOWAS Standby Force and strengthen its capacity to fulfil its mandate in support of collective security, peace and stability across the subregion.
