By Esther Oseyimon
Nigeria and Switzerland have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral defence relations, with renewed emphasis on non-kinetic strategies as critical tools for addressing contemporary security challenges.
This resolve was underscored on Thursday during a courtesy visit by the Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Patrick Felix Egloff, to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Oluyede Olusegun, at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
Ambassador Egloff said Switzerland was keen on expanding defence and diplomatic cooperation with Nigeria, particularly in areas that foster peace, stability and humanitarian engagement. He stressed that non-kinetic responses including dialogue, development-oriented initiatives and strong institutional partnerships are essential to tackling the root causes of insecurity.
According to him, Switzerland remains committed to supporting programmes that complement conventional military efforts, noting that sustainable peace is best achieved through inclusive, people-centred and preventive approaches rather than force alone.
In his response, General Oluyede welcomed the Swiss delegation and commended Switzerland for its consistent support to Nigeria’s security framework. He acknowledged the growing importance of non-kinetic measures in modern security operations, especially in strengthening civil-military relations and improving the effectiveness of defence responses.
The Defence Chief expressed optimism that the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and Switzerland would continue to deepen, translating into concrete outcomes in peacebuilding, strategic cooperation and defence capacity development.
The visit underscored the shared determination of both countries to pursue collaborative, forward looking solutions to evolving security threats through sustained partnership and mutual engagement.