By Nkechi Eze
Nigeria and Rwanda are seeking to strengthen military interoperability and deepen defence cooperation to tackle terrorism, violent extremism and other transnational security threats confronting African countries.
The commitment was reaffirmed by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, during a courtesy visit to the Chief of Defence Staff of the Rwanda Defence Force, General Mubarakh Muganga, in Kigali, Rwanda, as part of his ongoing official working visit.
According to an official statement signed by the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the engagement focused on strengthening bilateral military relations and advancing African-led security initiatives to address shared threats to peace and stability across the continent.
Shaibu emphasised the importance of closer military-to-military cooperation, particularly in counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, intelligence sharing, professional military education and the exchange of operational experiences.
He noted that sustained collaboration in these areas would improve interoperability, enhance operational readiness and strengthen the capacity of both countries’ armed forces to respond to increasingly complex security challenges.
The statement said the meeting also highlighted the need for African countries to take greater responsibility for addressing the continent’s security concerns through joint capacity development, coordinated responses and the sharing of military expertise.
It added that stronger defence partnerships would help prevent terrorist and criminal networks from exploiting national borders and regional security vulnerabilities.
The engagement further underscored the importance of African-driven security solutions based on mutual trust, shared expertise and collective responsibility.
The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening strategic defence partnerships with African counterparts as part of broader efforts to promote regional stability and build a more secure and resilient continent.
