President Bola Tinubu has secured a commitment from France for military equipment and specialized training, as Nigeria ramps up its efforts to tackle a resurgent wave of terror attacks across its northern regions.

The announcement follows a lengthy phone call between Mr. Tinubu and French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday. Speaking to state governors at his residence in Lagos, the President revealed that Nigeria is prepared to leverage its “goodwill and lines of credit” to modernize its security forces.

“The next phase of our struggle is staring us in the face; it is the challenge of insecurity in this country,” Mr. Tinubu said. “I am making frantic efforts to contact other nations… we have those who are willing to support us with equipment and training.”

A week of tragedy and diplomacy

The push for international military aid comes at a time of heightened urgency. Just last week, coordinated suicide bombings in the northeastern city of Maiduguri left 23 people dead and over 100 injured—one of the deadliest incidents in recent months.

The President’s discussions with Mr. Macron follow a high-profile state visit to the United Kingdom, where he held talks with King Charles III and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Security analysts suggest that Mr. Tinubu is attempting to forge a more robust “Western shield” against the various insurgencies—including Boko Haram and ISWAP—that have plagued Africa’s most populous nation for over a decade.

The economic cost of conflict

Beyond the battlefield, President Tinubu warned that global volatility is threatening Nigeria’s fragile economic recovery. He noted that the ongoing Middle East crisis is likely to drive up inflation and fuel prices at home, further straining the purchasing power of ordinary Nigerians.

“I know this Middle East crisis will elicit inflation and will affect our purchasing power,” he admitted, urging regional governors to focus on protecting the most vulnerable citizens in their states.

Regional context: The French role in the Sahel

The collaboration with France is particularly significant. Paris has historically been a major military player in the Sahel region, though its influence has waned recently following a series of military coups in neighboring countries like Mali and Niger.

By strengthening ties with Nigeria, France appears to be seeking a more stable democratic partner in the region, while Nigeria gains access to sophisticated French surveillance technology and counter-insurgency tactics.

President Tinubu ended his address by reaffirming a commitment to technology-driven warfare. “We must defeat terrorism and all of these criminal acts,” he declared. “As our investment in technology and equipment grows, we must defeat them.”