LAGOS, Nigeria — The President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, announced on Sunday, March 22, 2026, that the country has secured a strategic partnership with France to obtain advanced military hardware and specialized training. This development follows a high-level telephone conversation on Saturday, March 21, 2026, between President Tinubu and the President of France, Emmanuel Macron.
The Nigerian leader shared these details during a meeting with several state governors at his private residence in the Ikoyi neighborhood of Lagos, Nigeria. The President is currently in the city to observe the Eid-el-Fitr holidays, a religious celebration marking the conclusion of the Islamic month of fasting, after returning from a two-day official state visit to the United Kingdom.
Okay News reports that the President expressed a firm commitment to leveraging Nigeria’s international diplomatic standing and available credit facilities to strengthen the capacity of national security forces. The primary objective of this acquisition is to bolster the ongoing fight against insurgent groups and terrorist organizations operating within the West African sub-region.
Addressing the governors, President Tinubu stated: “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 identified national insecurity as the most significant hurdle currently facing the federal government of Nigeria. He emphasized that overcoming this challenge is essential for the country to achieve economic stability and social progress. President Tinubu noted that his recent discussions with King Charles III and Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the United Kingdom also focused heavily on the procurement of advanced military hardware.
This announcement follows a devastating security breach in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State in northeastern Nigeria. On Monday, March 16, 2026, a series of coordinated suicide bombings resulted in the deaths of 23 people and left 108 others with various injuries. In response, the President directed the leaders of the Nigerian military and police to relocate their operational focus to the region.
Beyond security, President Tinubu touched upon economic concerns, warning that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East is likely to drive up global oil prices, which could increase inflation and reduce purchasing power for Nigerian citizens. Nigeria currently faces diverse internal threats, including the Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) insurgencies in the North-East, as well as kidnapping and armed banditry in other regions.
