Nigerian reinforcements ECOMOG peacekeeping troops arrive on May 28, 1997 at Lungi International Airport in Freetown with a Nigerian airfoce Hercules cargo shuttling troops, ammunition and supplies following the military coup in Sierra Leone. (Photo credit should read ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP/Getty Images)
Poland has identified Nigeria as a critical pillar of stability in West Africa, acknowledging the decisive role played by the Nigerian Armed Forces—particularly the Nigerian Air Force—in counter-insurgency operations and regional security initiatives.
This position was articulated by the Polish Ambassador to Nigeria, Michał Cygan, during an official visit to the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Sunday Kelvin Aneke, at the Nigerian Air Force Headquarters in Abuja.
The development was disclosed in a statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Ehimen Ejodame.
During the visit, Ambassador Cygan praised the professionalism, resilience, and operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Armed Forces, noting that Nigeria’s sustained security engagements and strategic leadership continue to make a significant contribution to peace and stability across the West African sub-region.
He further expressed Poland’s interest in deepening bilateral defence relations with Nigeria through practical and mutually beneficial cooperation aligned with Nigeria’s security priorities. According to him, Nigeria’s central role in the region’s security architecture underscores the need for enhanced collaboration, particularly in areas supporting counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency efforts.
Responding, Air Marshal Aneke emphasised the growing importance of strategic international partnerships in tackling contemporary and asymmetric security threats. He reaffirmed the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to leveraging cooperation with friendly nations to strengthen operational effectiveness, enhance capacity development, and promote intelligence and information sharing.
The Chief of the Air Staff also reiterated the Service’s readiness to engage in partnerships that deliver tangible outcomes, boost counter-insurgency capabilities, and contribute to both regional and global security.
Discussions during the engagement focused on strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, with particular attention to identifying areas of collaboration that would further support the Nigerian Air Force’s ongoing counter-insurgency operations nationwide.
Overall, the visit underscored the strategic value of defence diplomacy in promoting mutual understanding, enhancing operational collaboration, and deepening bilateral ties between Nigeria and Poland, while reaffirming the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to professionalism, partnership, and sustained engagement in pursuit of peace and stability across the region.
By Linus Aleke, Abuja
About the Author
