Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, and the Chief of Defence Staff of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Amara Idara Bangura, at the Army Headquarters in Abuja
Nigeria and Sierra Leone have agreed to deepen their defence partnership, with a renewed focus on intelligence sharing, joint training, and a coordinated response to security threats across West Africa.
This commitment was reaffirmed on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, when Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, met with Sierra Leone’s Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Amara Idara Bangura, at Army Headquarters, Abuja. Shaibu said Nigeria remained committed to regional security cooperation and developing defence partnerships with neighbouring countries. He stressed the need for closer cooperation as West African countries confronted terrorism, violent extremism and other transnational threats.
He said Nigeria’s history of involvement in peacekeeping and peace enforcement operations obliges it to continue to support peace, stability and collective security in the region.
The Chief of Army recalled Nigeria’s role in efforts to restore stability in Liberia and Sierra Leone during their conflicts, including through the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG). He said that Nigerian troops paid heavy sacrifices in the face of sub-regional conflicts.
Shaibu said Nigeria was ready to continue supporting regional security through counterterrorism operations, military capacity-building, and increased cooperation among West African armed forces. He urged members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to strengthen defence ties, especially among English-speaking countries.
He called for greater intelligence sharing, joint training, and operational coordination to help countries respond more effectively to transnational threats. Shaibu also expressed concern over the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger from ECOWAS and the formation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). He said sustained diplomatic engagement and strategic cooperation were needed to sustain regional cohesion and improve efforts to fight terrorism and violent extremism.
During the meeting, Shaibu congratulated Bangura on completing his tenure as Chairman of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff. He praised Bangura’s contribution to regional military cooperation and assured the Nigerian Army of its commitment to strengthening bilateral defence relations with Sierra Leone. Nigeria would continue supporting collective security efforts and appreciated the contributions of serving personnel and veterans who helped maintain peace and stability in West Africa, he said.
For his part, Bangura acknowledged Nigeria’s role in restoring peace to Sierra Leone during the country’s civil war. He paid tribute to the sacrifices of Nigerian troops. He said the bilateral relationship was a strategic partnership based on common history, mutual trust, and a shared commitment to regional peace.
The Sierra Leonean defence chief also recalled his military training in Nigeria as a reflection of the long-standing military ties between the two countries. Mr Bangura reiterated Sierra Leone’s solidarity with Nigeria amid current security challenges.
He also promised continued military cooperation among Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Liberia, stressing the need for ongoing collaboration among the three countries. He cited initiatives to recognise veterans of regional peace support operations, noting their contribution to peace and stability in West Africa.
The discussions are taking place as countries in the region look for ways to improve their responses to terrorism, violent extremism and other transnational security threats. “We talked about the importance of bilateral partnerships and wider regional cooperation, like regular exchanges between military leaders, joint planning and coordinated operations.” Shaibu and Bangura said their countries are committed to continuing defence cooperation and contributing to West Africa’s collective security efforts.
