President Bola Tinubu on Sunday announced that Nigeria has secured collaboration from France on military equipment and support following a lengthy discussion with French President Emmanuel Macron, in what he described as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to tackle insecurity.
Tinubu disclosed this during a meeting with governors at his Ikoyi residence in Lagos, where he observed the Eid-el-Fitr holidays after returning from his two-day state visit to the United Kingdom.
The disclosure was contained in excerpts of the President’s address to the governors made available on Sunday, in which he outlined his administration’s ongoing diplomatic and security engagements aimed at securing military equipment, training, and international cooperation to confront terrorism and other security threats facing the country.
Speaking during the meeting, Tinubu said Nigeria was prepared to leverage its goodwill and existing lines of credit to acquire the necessary military equipment and training required by security forces in the fight against terrorism and other forms of insecurity.
He told the governors, “I can report to you, yesterday again, at a lengthy discussion with Emmanuel Macron, their collaboration with us for equipment and support. 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.”
The President made it clear that his administration is actively engaging multiple countries to secure support for Nigeria’s security operations, stressing that the government is willing to use diplomatic relationships and financial arrangements available to it to strengthen the nation’s defence capabilities.
Tinubu described insecurity as the next major challenge confronting his administration and stressed that collective effort would be required to achieve victory over terrorism and criminality. He said, “The next phase of our struggle is staring us in the face; it is the challenge of insecurity in this country. I’m making all the efforts to ensure that collectively we share the joy and be proud of victory over tyranny.”
He further stressed that insecurity remains a major obstacle to development, progress, and prosperity, noting that governors across the country are aware of the seriousness of the situation and the need for coordinated action.
The President also disclosed that one of the major issues discussed during his recent state visit to the United Kingdom was the acquisition of military equipment, again referencing his discussion with the French President. “One of the major discussions in the UK is equipment. I can report to you, yesterday again, at a lengthy discussion with Emmanuel Macron, their collaboration with us for equipment and support,” he stated.
The meeting at the Ikoyi residence was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, and during the meeting Tinubu also addressed economic concerns, particularly the potential impact of the Middle East crisis on Nigeria’s economy. He warned that the crisis could trigger inflation and reduce purchasing power among Nigerians due to rising fuel prices and transportation costs.
According to him, “I know this Middle East crisis will elicit inflation, will affect our purchasing power. The labour union and others will be gathering to support them because of the effect of the Middle East War and prices at the pumps, resulting in transportation problems and food prices.”
His remarks highlighted concerns within the Federal Government about the global economic ripple effects of geopolitical tensions and how they could affect domestic economic stability.
Tinubu also expressed appreciation to the governors for honouring his invitation to the meeting at short notice, describing their attendance as impressive and reflective of unity and cooperation among leaders.
He said, “I am very surprised at the short notice that this number is extremely impressive. It shows our sincerity, commitment and the value of friendship and togetherness. I thank every one of you for what we have been doing.” He used the opportunity to call on governors to continue to prioritise the welfare of the vulnerable in their various states, noting that while progress has been made, more can still be done to support citizens facing hardship.
In addition, the President extended condolences to Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, over the recent Maiduguri bombings, urging him to return to the state to deliver a message of sympathy and condolence to the people affected by the attack.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to defeating terrorism and criminal activities across the country, Tinubu emphasised the importance of investing in modern technology and equipment for security forces. He declared, “We must defeat terrorism and all of these criminal acts. As our investment in technology and equipment, we must defeat them.”
Nigeria has for years battled multiple security challenges across different regions, including the Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West and North-Central regions, separatist agitations in the South-East, and widespread kidnapping in several parts of the country.
These security challenges have had significant humanitarian, economic, and social consequences, making security one of the central priorities of the current administration.
France has historically maintained military cooperation with several West African countries and has been actively involved in counter-terrorism operations in the Sahel region, where terrorist groups have taken advantage of weak governance structures and security vacuums to expand their operations.
The collaboration between Nigeria and France on military equipment and support is therefore seen as part of broader international cooperation aimed at strengthening regional security and combating terrorism across West Africa. The President’s meeting with governors also came barely a week after the Maiduguri bomb blasts that killed 23 people and injured 108 others in coordinated suicide attacks, an incident that underscored the persistent security threats facing the country.
Following the attack, Tinubu had directed security chiefs to relocate to Maiduguri to take charge of the security situation and had approved additional equipment and operational support to enhance counter-terrorism operations.
Vice President Kashim Shettima had also visited victims of the Maiduguri attack who were receiving treatment at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, where he assured Nigerians that beyond the presidential directive to security chiefs, the Federal Government was investing more in equipment and logistics to strengthen the fight against terrorism.
Tinubu’s latest disclosure on French collaboration therefore forms part of a broader strategy by the administration to secure international partnerships, improve military capacity, and address Nigeria’s security challenges through both domestic reforms and foreign cooperation.
The President’s disclosure also followed his recent state visit to the United Kingdom, where he held meetings with King Charles III, Queen Camilla, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. During the visit, Nigeria and the United Kingdom sealed new export agreements and held discussions on deepening cooperation on security matters, with Tinubu emphasising that partnership with the UK remains essential in confronting terrorism challenges in West Africa.
The series of diplomatic engagements in the UK and discussions with France, according to the President, are part of a broader effort by his administration to build strong international partnerships that will support Nigeria’s security operations, economic development, and long-term stability.