The Chief of Army Staff of the Nigerian Army, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, served as the Guest Speaker at the 69th Anniversary Celebration of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), held on February 11 in Monrovia.
The anniversary marks a solemn reminder of the sacrifices, courage, and unwavering commitment of generations of Liberian service personnel who have sworn to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of their nation.
Lt. Gen. Shaibu conveyed the goodwill of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and congratulated Liberia on the successful celebration. He expressed sincere appreciation to the organizers, the Ministry of National Defense, and the Headquarters of the Armed Forces of Liberia for considering him worthy to serve as Guest Speaker at the auspicious occasion.
Reflecting on his personal connection to Liberia, Lt. Gen. Shaibu recalled his service as Military Assistant to the Commander of the Armed Forces of Liberia between 2007 and 2012. He noted that during that period, foundational efforts were made to rebuild and restructure the Armed Forces following years of challenges. He described the process at the time as building an aircraft in flight and expressed pride in the significant progress made since then.
Today, the Armed Forces of Liberia stands as a highly motivated and structured force, playing an active role in national development. He commended the leadership of the AFL for their dedication and continued efforts in strengthening the institution as a professional and accountable military force.
The Nigerian Army Chief also acknowledged the invaluable contributions of international partners, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Sierra Leone, Ghana, the Republic of Benin, and Nigeria. Their sustained support, he noted, has been instrumental in Liberia s recovery, rehabilitation, reconciliation, and long-term stability through peace enforcement and peacebuilding initiatives.
He emphasized that the relationship between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of Liberia is built on shared history and mutual sacrifice. Nigeria s commitment to Liberia s peace and stability, particularly during the ECOWAS intervention years, remains a cornerstone of its foreign policy and a strong example of African solidarity and brotherhood.
Highlighting contemporary security challenges, Lt. Gen. Shaibu stressed that modern threats are increasingly complex, transnational, and often driven by non-state actors who exploit governance gaps and socio-economic vulnerabilities. He pointed to drug trafficking as a growing national and regional security threat, particularly due to the proliferation of synthetic drugs and their devastating impact on youth, public health, and social stability.
He further underscored the importance of inter-agency cooperation, intelligence sharing, and strong legal frameworks to dismantle trafficking networks and combat organized crime and violent extremism.
The Chief of Army Staff also addressed emerging threats such as cybercrime targeting critical infrastructure, financial systems, and military assets, as well as maritime security challenges in the Gulf of Guinea, including piracy and illegal fishing. As a littoral state, Liberia faces the need to adopt forward-looking strategies, technological innovation, and enhanced regional cooperation to stay ahead of evolving threats.
He reaffirmed Nigeria s continued commitment to supporting Liberia and strengthening security collaboration across the West African sub-region. He noted that in today s security environment, no single nation or agency can effectively counter threats alone, and emphasized the necessity of a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.
The 69th Anniversary celebration concluded with renewed optimism and a shared commitment to peace, stability, and prosperity for Liberia and the wider West African region.
