The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on Friday reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s “unwavering commitment” to deepening defence ties with Pakistan as part of a broader effort to confront evolving security threats confronting the country and the region.
Receiving Pakistan’s Defence Adviser to Nigeria, Colonel Kamran Mushtaq, at Army Headquarters, Abuja, General Shaibu described the bilateral relationship as strategically significant and identified expanded cooperation in joint training, intelligence sharing, defence technology and operational collaboration as priority areas. He said such cooperation will strengthen interoperability, improve operational readiness and enhance the army’s capacity to respond to terrorism, insurgency, banditry and other transnational threats.
“This partnership is built on shared experience in counter‑terrorism and counter‑insurgency,” the COAS said, stressing that sustained professional military education, specialised training and robust intelligence exchange are vital to boosting Nigeria’s combat effectiveness and technological edge.
Partnership priorities and practical measures
Both sides agreed on practical measures to advance the partnership, including:
• Expanded joint training programmes and exchange of instructors and officers;
• Enhanced intelligence cooperation and information‑sharing mechanisms;
• Technical assistance and provision of critical enablers such as advanced surveillance and communications systems;
• Increased participation in professional military education, with Pakistani officers due to attend Nigeria’s National Defence College.
Colonel Mushtaq conveyed the goodwill of Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces, and affirmed Pakistan’s readiness to share expertise drawn from decades of counter‑terrorism operations. He pledged specialised training and technical support aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s operational capabilities.
COAS’s domestic push: intelligence‑led and technology‑driven
General Shaibu used the meeting to situate the bilateral engagement within the Nigerian Army’s broader reform and operational priorities. He reiterated the army’s focus on intelligence‑led operations, capacity building for junior and senior officers, procurement of force‑multiplying technologies, and improved interoperability with partner forces.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, a senior army spokesman said the COAS regards external partnerships as complementary to domestic reforms — not a substitute — pointing to ongoing efforts to modernise surveillance, enhance real‑time intelligence fusion and professionalise training doctrines. “The COAS is seeking partnerships that deliver both immediate operational advantages and long‑term institutional capacity,” the spokesman said.
Regional implications and political context
Analysts say the deepening Nigeria–Pakistan military relationship comes as state and non‑state security threats continue to evolve in complexity and geographic reach. By prioritising training, intelligence and technology transfers, Abuja seeks to accelerate force transformation while leveraging Pakistan’s hard‑won counter‑insurgency experience.
The meeting — confirmed in an Army Public Relations release signed by Colonel Appolonia Anele — signals Abuja’s determination to pursue multiple international partnerships aimed at reducing insecurity and protecting civilians. Both delegations stressed that cooperation will be transparent and focused on practical outcomes that strengthen national and regional security architectures.
Next steps
Both militaries agreed to institutionalise exchange programmes, schedule joint training events and explore procurement and logistics arrangements to operationalise the commitments discussed. The COAS said progress will be monitored and reported to ensure that these initiatives translate into measurable improvements in the security environment.
As General Shaibu put it, the partnership with Pakistan is one element of a sustained effort to ensure the Nigerian Army remains agile, capable and prepared to protect the nation against contemporary and emergent threats.
