By ZAKAA LAZARUS
The German Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Stefan Rossel, has described Nigeria as an anchor of stability in the West African sub-region, acknowledging the country’s strategic role in promoting regional peace and security.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Director, Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, on 4 November 2026.
Ambassador Rossel remarked on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, during a courtesy visit to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja.
Ambassador Rossel thanked the CDS for the warm reception accorded to him and his delegation, describing Nigeria as a valued partner of the Federal Republic of Germany. He reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to protecting and deepening the longstanding bilateral relationship, noting that sustained cooperation between both countries would create opportunities for more mutually beneficial projects and initiatives, particularly in the defence and security sectors.
The engagement further provided an avenue for the German Technical Advisory Group (G-TAG) to brief the CDS on the progress and impact of ongoing training support being provided to the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), highlighting areas of collaboration aimed at enhancing professional competence and operational capacity.
In his response, General Oluyede thanked the Ambassador for the visit and expressed the appreciation of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to the Government of Germany for their continued partnership and support. He particularly acknowledged the contributions of the G-TAG to the development of the Mechatronics School, Combat Tactical Care Training and Counter-Improvised Explosive Devices Training, among other capacity-building initiatives and material support.
The CDS emphasised the importance of sustaining and expanding the existing defence cooperation, particularly in specialised military training and professional development. He called for increased opportunities for strategic and advanced courses for officers and soldiers of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to further strengthen their professional competencies and operational effectiveness.
General Oluyede assured the German Ambassador of the AFN’s readiness to consolidate the existing partnership and explore additional areas of cooperation towards addressing evolving security challenges and advancing shared defence and security interests.
The visit underscores the enduring defence relations between Nigeria and Germany and the mutual commitment of both countries to strengthening military capacity, promoting regional stability and enhancing international security cooperation.
