US Commander Visits Nigeria to Foster Deeper Military Partnerships

The Commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), General Michael Langley, recently paid a courtesy visit to the Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.

In a statement on Wednesday, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, confirmed that General Langley was accompanied by the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, as they discussed avenues for enhanced military collaboration between the two nations.

General Langley commended Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters for its proactive measures in combating insecurity, praising the country’s strategic approach and its leadership role within the West African sub-region. He also congratulated General Musa on his recent appointment as Chairman of the Committee of ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence Staff, acknowledging Nigeria’s influential role in regional security efforts.

According to Gusau, General Musa reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to collaborate with international allies to address regional security challenges, including terrorism. General Musa appealed to the United States for support in procuring advanced weaponry and equipment essential to bolstering Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts.

In his response, General Musa expressed appreciation for the AFRICOM Commander’s visit and emphasized the Nigerian Armed Forces’ commitment to working with regional and global partners to eradicate terrorism and organized crime in West Africa. He further advocated for expanded defence cooperation with the United States, specifically in areas such as training, intelligence sharing, and assistance in acquiring critical military platforms.