Abuja, Nigeria – February 11, 2026 — The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has declared that Nigeria bore the heaviest burden in the restoration of peace to Liberia during its devastating civil wars, emphasising that Nigerian troops carried the bulk of operational responsibilities and made the greatest sacrifices in the West African nation’s stabilisation efforts.
Lt. Gen. Shaibu made the statement while delivering a keynote address at a high-level symposium on regional peacekeeping and security cooperation in West Africa, held in Abuja. The event brought together military leaders, diplomats, academics, and representatives from ECOWAS member states to reflect on lessons learned from past interventions and chart a path forward for collective security in the sub-region.
The COAS highlighted Nigeria’s pivotal role in the two major civil wars that ravaged Liberia between 1989 and 2003, which claimed an estimated 250,000 lives, displaced millions, and destroyed much of the country’s infrastructure. He noted that under the banner of the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG), Nigeria provided the largest contingent of troops, logistical support, and financial resources to halt the fighting and facilitate political resolution.
“Nigeria played a decisive role in restoring peace to Liberia,” Lt. Gen. Shaibu stated. “Our troops carried the bulk of operational responsibilities, endured the highest casualties, and sustained the mission when other partners faced challenges. Nigeria bore the heaviest burden — in blood, in treasure, and in unwavering commitment — to ensure that Liberia did not descend into total collapse.”
The COAS pointed out that at the peak of the intervention, Nigeria had deployed over 15,000 troops to Liberia under ECOMOG, accounting for the majority of the multinational force. He recounted that Nigerian soldiers faced intense combat, ambushes, and harsh conditions while protecting civilian populations, securing key cities, and enabling humanitarian access. The mission, he said, was instrumental in creating the conditions for the 1997 elections and later the 2003 Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended the second civil war.
Lt. Gen. Shaibu acknowledged the significant cost of the intervention, both human and material. Hundreds of Nigerian soldiers lost their lives, with thousands more wounded, in operations that spanned more than a decade across multiple phases. The financial expenditure, drawn largely from Nigeria’s national budget, ran into billions of naira, placing considerable strain on the country’s economy at the time.
Despite these sacrifices, the COAS stressed that Nigeria’s actions were driven by a sense of regional solidarity and the belief that instability in any West African state threatened the peace and security of the entire sub-region. He described the Liberia intervention as a defining moment that demonstrated Africa’s capacity to resolve its own conflicts when external support was limited or delayed.
The remarks come amid renewed discussions on burden-sharing in regional peacekeeping missions, particularly as ECOWAS continues to grapple with contemporary crises in the Sahel, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Lt. Gen. Shaibu called for greater equity in future interventions, urging member states to contribute more proportionally to personnel, funding, and logistics so that no single country is disproportionately burdened.
“Nigeria remains committed to regional peace and security, but we must learn from history,” he said. “The sacrifices made in Liberia should not be repeated without shared responsibility. A stronger, more balanced ECOWAS standby force and collective funding mechanisms are essential if we are to respond effectively to future threats.”
The symposium also featured presentations on the evolution of ECOMOG, the transition to United Nations peacekeeping in Liberia (UNMIL), and the long-term impact of Nigeria’s intervention on Liberia’s post-conflict recovery. Liberian representatives in attendance expressed gratitude for Nigeria’s role, describing it as a “lifeline” that prevented genocide and paved the way for national reconciliation.
The Chief of Army Staff’s comments have reignited national pride in some quarters while prompting reflection on the cost-benefit analysis of Nigeria’s past peacekeeping engagements. Analysts note that the Liberia mission, alongside similar interventions in Sierra Leone, helped establish Nigeria’s credentials as West Africa’s “big brother” and a leading contributor to continental stability.
As Nigeria continues to play a central role in ECOWAS-led operations — including the recent deployment of troops to The Gambia and ongoing support in counter-terrorism efforts in the Lake Chad Basin — Lt. Gen. Shaibu’s statement serves as both a historical reminder and a call for reform in how regional security responsibilities are shared.
The Nigerian Army has since reaffirmed its readiness to support ECOWAS initiatives but reiterated the need for sustainable financing, better coordination, and equitable participation from all member states to ensure the long-term success of collective defence efforts in West Africa.
