By Our Correspondent
National News – Nigeria and South Africa are strengthening military cooperation in a renewed effort to boost regional security, improve operational readiness, and enhance professional training among African armed forces.
The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to deeper collaboration during an official visit by the Chief of the South African Army, Lieutenant General Lawrence Khulekani Mbatha, to Army Headquarters in Abuja.
During the high-level meeting, Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, emphasised the importance of stronger partnerships among African militaries to confront emerging security threats across the continent.
He noted that coordinated efforts and shared expertise would help armies respond more effectively to terrorism, insurgency, and evolving asymmetric warfare tactics.
Shaibu highlighted Nigeria’s extensive experience in counter-terrorism operations, particularly in the North-East under Operation HADIN KAI.
According to him, Nigerian troops face complex threats daily, including improvised explosive devices and guerrilla-style attacks from insurgent groups.
He explained that the Nigerian Army has developed specialised training frameworks to improve battlefield survival, intelligence gathering, and counter-terrorism operations.
Strengthening cooperation with South Africa, he added, would further improve these training programmes and help build a stronger regional security architecture.
The army chief also pointed to existing military education exchanges between both countries.
Nigerian officers currently attend courses at the South African Defence College, while South African officers serve as instructors in key Nigerian institutions such as the Army War College Nigeria and the Armed Forces Command and Staff College.
These exchange programmes, Shaibu noted, help develop strategic leadership skills, expand operational knowledge, and promote professional military standards across both nations.
In his remarks, Mbatha said his visit aimed to study Nigeria’s operational experience in tackling insurgency and terrorism.
He expressed interest in understanding how the Nigerian Army structures its training systems and battlefield strategies to combat insurgent warfare and the threat posed by improvised explosive devices.
Mbatha also indicated that South Africa could support Nigeria’s military aviation development through technical expertise in aircraft maintenance and pilot training.
Both military leaders agreed to expand joint operational exercises, strengthen training collaborations, and promote technical partnerships between their armies, noting that stronger defence cooperation between Nigeria and South Africa would contribute significantly to stability and collective security across Africa.
