The Nigerian Armed Forces and the Swiss Government have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening defence cooperation, with greater emphasis on non-military approaches to addressing insecurity.
The commitment was made during a courtesy visit by the Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, Patrick Felix Egloff, to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.
Ambassador Egloff reiterated Switzerland’s interest in deepening diplomatic and defence collaboration with Nigeria, particularly in supporting non-kinetic security initiatives that address the root causes of conflict through dialogue, development assistance, and humanitarian action.
“Sustained collaboration in initiatives that promote peacebuilding, stability, and institutional partnerships is of paramount importance,” he said.
In response, General Oluyede welcomed the envoy and expressed appreciation for Switzerland’s continued support to Nigeria’s security efforts. He noted that non-kinetic partnerships play an important role in complementing ongoing military operations.
The CDS expressed optimism that the relationship would yield more impactful outcomes in areas of mutual interest, especially peacebuilding and strategic cooperation.
The meeting was disclosed in a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, signaling a shared resolve to advance preventive diplomacy and sustainable development as pillars of regional stability.
