RismadarVoice Reporters, February 11, 2026
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s strategic leadership in regional peace and security, declaring that the stability currently enjoyed by Liberia is a direct outcome of deliberate government policy, African solidarity and the sacrifices of the Nigerian Army.
Lieutenant General Shaibu made the remarks on Wednesday, 11 February 2026, at the Barclay Training Center in Monrovia, where he attended as Special Guest of Honour at activities marking the 69th Armed Forces Day Anniversary of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL).
He emphasized that Nigeria’s intervention during Liberia’s civil conflict was neither incidental nor transactional, but a conscious foreign and defence policy decision undertaken in the collective interest of West African stability.
Recalling Nigeria’s leading role under the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG), the COAS noted that Nigerian troops formed the backbone of peace enforcement operations, bearing the heaviest operational responsibilities and recording significant casualties to prevent state collapse, restore law and order, and preserve Liberia’s sovereignty.
According to him, the Federal Government of Nigeria demonstrated exceptional leadership by committing troops, resources and sustained political will over an extended period, laying the foundation for Liberia’s national reconciliation, democratic transition and post-conflict reconstruction.
Speaking further at a dinner held in his honour, Lieutenant General Shaibu reflected on his personal involvement in the early stages of rebuilding the Armed Forces of Liberia. He recalled serving alongside the late Major General Suraj Alawo Abdurrahman, then Chief of Staff of the AFL, and other regional partners in what he described as a complex “Aircraft-in-Flight” reform process, rebuilding the force while it remained operational.
He expressed satisfaction that officers mentored during that formative period now occupy key leadership positions, describing the AFL as a testament to sustained international partnership, regional cooperation and adherence to core military values.
The COAS urged the AFL to guard its ethos of sacrifice, professionalism and loyalty to constitutional authority, stressing that Nigeria would continue to provide advisory and capacity-building support in furtherance of Liberia’s stability and regional peace. He noted that Nigeria played a central role in mentoring, training and professionally reorienting the force, transforming it into a disciplined and democratically accountable institution now recognised as “A Force for Good.”
Addressing the theme of the anniversary, “Securing Liberia Together: Strengthening Inter-Agency Cooperation Against Drug Trafficking and Emerging Security Threats,” Lieutenant General Shaibu warned that contemporary challenges such as drug trafficking, cybercrime, maritime insecurity and organised criminal networks have evolved into strategic threats capable of undermining state authority and regional stability.
He described the proliferation of synthetic drugs as a critical national security concern with implications for youth development, economic resilience and internal stability. The COAS advocated stronger inter-agency synergy, intelligence-led operations, enhanced legal frameworks and deeper regional cooperation as essential pillars of effective security governance.
Drawing from Nigeria’s operational experience, he highlighted the effectiveness of the Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society approach, where security agencies operate within unified command structures to enhance operational efficiency and strategic outcomes. He encouraged Liberia to deepen similar collaborative frameworks in confronting emerging threats.
Lieutenant General Shaibu commended officers and soldiers of the AFL for their professionalism and loyalty to constitutional authority, describing them as stabilising forces and guardians of Liberia’s democracy. He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to sustained defence cooperation, capacity building and collective responses to transnational security challenges within the ECOWAS sub-region.
The COAS congratulated the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Liberia, the AFL High Command and the Liberian people on the occasion of the 69th Armed Forces Day Anniversary, expressing confidence in the continued consolidation of professionalism and operational effectiveness within the force.
