President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has confirmed a new phase of military cooperation between Nigeria and France, aimed at strengthening the country’s fight against terrorism and rising insecurity.
The development follows high-level talks with French President, Emmanuel Macron, as Nigeria intensifies efforts to secure international support for its armed forces.
Tinubu disclosed this on Sunday during a meeting with state governors at his Ikoyi residence in Lagos, shortly after returning from a two-day state visit to the United Kingdom, where security and defence partnerships also featured prominently in his engagements.
Speaking at the meeting, the President said Nigeria had secured French backing in the area of military equipment and operational support. He noted that his discussions with Macron were extensive and focused on practical strategies to enhance Nigeria’s counter-terrorism capacity.
“I can report to you, yesterday again, at a lengthy discussion with Emmanuel Macron, their collaboration with us for equipment and support,” Tinubu said.
He added that his administration is engaging other countries as part of a broader strategy to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture, stressing that existing goodwill and financial arrangements could be leveraged to acquire needed military assets.
“I’m making frantic efforts to contact other nations. If we have to spend our goodwill and line of credit, we have those who are willing to support us with equipment and training,” he added.
The President described insecurity as a critical challenge confronting his administration, warning that it threatens national stability, economic growth, and social cohesion. He urged governors to remain committed to joint efforts aimed at restoring peace across the country.
“The next phase of our struggle is staring us in the face; it is the challenge of insecurity in this country,” he said, adding, “I’m making all the efforts to ensure that collectively we share the joy and be proud of victory over tyranny.”
Tinubu further revealed that military hardware acquisition was a major focus of his recent engagements in the United Kingdom, with discussions centred on equipping Nigerian forces with modern tools to improve operational effectiveness.
At the same meeting, the President raised concerns about the economic implications of global tensions, particularly the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. He warned that the situation could trigger inflationary pressures and worsen the cost of living.
“I know this Middle East crisis will elicit inflation, will affect our purchasing power,” Tinubu stated, noting that rising fuel costs could lead to transportation challenges and increased food prices.
He thanked the governors for honouring his invitation on short notice, describing their presence as a demonstration of unity and shared commitment to tackling Nigeria’s challenges.
Tinubu reiterated his administration’s resolve to invest in modern technology and advanced equipment to combat terrorism and other forms of criminality.
“We must defeat terrorism and all of these criminal acts. As our investment in technology and equipment, we must defeat them,” he declared.
Nigeria continues to face multiple security challenges across its regions, including insurgency in the North-East, banditry and kidnappings in the North-West and North-Central, and separatist tensions in the South-East.
France has maintained a longstanding military presence in parts of West Africa, particularly in the Sahel region, where it has supported efforts to combat extremist groups exploiting fragile governance systems.
