By Joy Odor Reportcircle News
Nigeria has reaffirmed its strategic footprint in West Africa’s security architecture, with the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, declaring that Liberia’s stability is a direct dividend of Nigeria’s sustained military commitment, regional diplomacy and long-term defence reforms.
Speaking in Monrovia on February 11, 2026, at the Barclay Training Center during events marking the 69th Armed Forces Day Anniversary of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), the Army Chief positioned Nigeria’s intervention in Liberia’s civil war as a calculated geopolitical decision not a temporary mission, but a doctrine-driven investment in regional stability.
Gen. Shaibu noted that Nigeria’s leadership under the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) formed the operational backbone of peace enforcement in Liberia, absorbing the bulk of battlefield risks and casualties to prevent state collapse and preserve Liberia’s sovereignty.
According to him, Abuja’s sustained troop deployment, funding commitments and political will during Liberia’s civil conflict laid the groundwork for national reconciliation, democratic transition and institutional rebuilding.
“The stability Liberia enjoys today reflects deliberate governmental resolve, African solidarity and the sacrifices of Nigerian troops,” he stated.
At a state dinner held in his honour, the COAS reflected on his personal involvement in Liberia’s post-war military reconstruction, describing it as an “Aircraft-in-Flight” reform—rebuilding a national defence institution while it remained operational.
He recalled working alongside the late Major General Suraj Alawo Abdurrahman and regional partners in mentoring and restructuring the AFL into what he described as a disciplined, democratically accountable force now recognised as “A Force for Good.”
Shaibu expressed satisfaction that officers mentored during that formative period now occupy senior leadership positions within the AFL, describing the transformation as evidence of sustained international partnership and regional cooperation.
Beyond historical reflection, the Army Chief used the platform to address evolving security risks across West Africa.
Speaking on the event’s theme, “Securing Liberia Together: Strengthening Inter-Agency Cooperation Against Drug Trafficking and Emerging Security Threats,” he warned that contemporary challenges including synthetic drug proliferation, cybercrime, maritime insecurity and organised criminal networks now represent strategic threats capable of undermining governance and economic resilience.
He stressed that drug trafficking in particular has become a national security concern with direct implications for youth productivity and internal stability, advocating intelligence-led enforcement, stronger legal frameworks and deeper regional coordination.
Drawing from Nigeria’s operational experience, Shaibu highlighted the effectiveness of a Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society approach, where armed forces, police and intelligence agencies operate under coordinated command structures to improve efficiency and outcomes.
He urged Liberia to institutionalise inter-agency synergy to confront both current and emerging threats.
The COAS reaffirmed that Nigeria’s defence ties with Liberia are anchored on “shared sacrifice and strategic trust,” emphasising that Liberia’s security remains inseparable from broader ECOWAS stability.
Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, he added, Nigeria remains committed to defence diplomacy, advisory support and capacity building across the sub-region.
In a symbolic reinforcement of bilateral ties, two senior Nigerian Army officers, Brigadier General Mohammed Sani Usman and Brigadier General Owoicho Egiga were decorated with Liberia’s Distinguished Service Order in recognition of their contributions to the AFL’s development.
For Nigeria, the ceremony marked more than an anniversary celebration. It underscored a long-standing security doctrine: regional instability carries economic and geopolitical costs, and sustained investment in peace-building remains central to West Africa’s growth trajectory.
As transnational threats evolve, Abuja’s message from Monrovia was unequivocal Nigeria intends to remain both a stabiliser and strategic anchor in the sub-region’s defence landscape.
