Nigeria’s Army Chief in Liberia As Regional Militaries Reassert Collective Security And Professional Solidarity

Nigeria has positioned itself at the centre of West Africa’s evolving defence diplomacy as the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, arrived in Liberia to participate in the country’s Sixty-Ninth Armed Forces Day celebration, a moment increasingly viewed within military circles as more than ceremonial amid shifting regional security dynamics.

Desk: Defence & Security
Date: Tuesday, 10 February 2026
Time: 18:30 WAT
Location: Monrovia, Liberia

The visit comes at a time when West African armed forces are recalibrating cooperation frameworks in response to transnational threats, democratic instability, and operational fatigue across the Sahel and coastal states, making Nigeria’s visible military presence in Monrovia a signal of continued leadership within the region’s security architecture.

Lieutenant General Shaibu was received by the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia, Major General Davidson Forley, and inspected a Guard of Honour mounted by Liberian troops, a gesture reflecting enduring institutional trust forged through decades of Nigerian military involvement in Liberia’s stabilisation, training, and post-conflict rebuilding efforts.

Beyond the formal reception, the Army Chief’s engagement carries deeper strategic weight, reinforcing Nigeria’s commitment to defence diplomacy as a stabilising tool, particularly as regional militaries seek to preserve professional norms, interoperability, and collective legitimacy in an increasingly fragmented security environment.

According to a statement signed by Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the visit also included an engagement at the Nigerian Embassy in Monrovia, where Lieutenant General Shaibu commended diplomatic efforts aimed at sustaining bilateral relations and protecting Nigerian interests, underscoring the civil-military dimension of Nigeria’s regional posture.

Lieutenant General Shaibu is expected to deliver an address during the Armed Forces Day celebrations, as Liberia reflects on its military heritage and operational role in national development, with Nigeria’s participation serving as a reminder of the historical and operational depth of their defence relationship.

The engagement is further shaped by institutional continuity, as the Nigerian Army Chief previously served as Military Assistant to a former Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia and was awarded the country’s Distinguished Service Order, a rare honour that reinforces both personal credibility and enduring military ties between both nations.

🏷 Tags: Defence Diplomacy, Nigerian Army, Liberia, West Africa Security, Military Cooperation, Regional Stability

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