The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with Ecobank Nigeria towards expanding financial opportunities and welfare support for officers, soldiers and their families.
A statement signed by Colonel Appolonia Anele Acting Director Army Public Relations said the COAS stated this on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, when the Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Mr Bolaji Lawal, led a delegation on a courtesy visit to Army Headquarters, Abuja. He noted that the relationship between the Nigerian Army and Ecobank, spanning more than two decades, has remained mutually beneficial, particularly in supporting the financial well-being of personnel.
Lieutenant General Shaibu emphasised that strong institutional partnerships are important to sustaining a professional, resilient and motivated force. He therefore directed the Army’s finance leadership to engage the bank on developing flexible financial schemes that reflect the peculiar financial needs of military personnel.
The COAS also called on Ecobank to expand its Corporate Social Responsibility interventions to complement the Nigerian Army’s welfare programmes, particularly those supporting wounded-in-action personnel, widows and children of fallen heroes. He stressed that such interventions would contribute meaningfully to improving the welfare of troops and their families.
Earlier, the Managing Director of Ecobank Nigeria, Mr Bolaji Lawal, expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Army for the confidence and partnership it has extended to the bank over the years. He disclosed that Ecobank was prepared to deepen the relationship through specialised services, insurance and lending solutions designed to enhance financial inclusion and provide greater financial flexibility for officers and soldiers.
Mr Lawal added that the bank intends to extend bespoke financial services to major Nigerian Army institutions and formations, including the Nigerian Defence Academy, Depot Nigerian Army, Divisions and other formations across the country. He maintained that the initiative would broaden access to financial services for personnel while further strengthening institutional cooperation between the Nigerian Army and Ecobank.
