Nigeria, South Africa armies to deepen cooperation for regional security

Africa, Politics

Abuja, Nigeria (NPA) — March 10, 2026 — The Nigerian Army has pledged to strengthen military cooperation with the South African Army, following a visit by the Chief of the South African Army, Lieutenant General Lawrence Khulekani Mbatha, to the Army Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.

Colonel Appolonia Anele, Acting Director of Army Public Relations, said Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, emphasised that closer collaboration among African militaries is critical to addressing terrorism and insurgency. He noted that shared training and operational knowledge would enhance regional security and professional capacity.

Shaibu highlighted Nigeria’s counter‑terrorism efforts in the North‑East under Operation HADIN KAI, stressing the importance of specialised training in detecting and neutralising Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). He said cooperation with South Africa would strengthen these programs and improve battlefield survivability.

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The army chief also pointed to ongoing collaboration in military education. Nigerian officers attend courses at the South African Defence College, while South African officers serve as instructors in Nigerian institutions such as the Army War College and the Armed Forces Command and Staff College. These exchanges, he said, build institutional ties and leadership capacity.

Mbatha, for his part, praised Nigeria’s extensive battlefield experience and expressed interest in learning from its operational strategies against asymmetric threats. He noted that South Africa’s expertise in aviation maintenance and pilot training could support Nigeria’s efforts to expand its air capabilities.

Both leaders concluded with a commitment to sustain joint training, operational exchanges, and technical cooperation. They agreed that stronger collaboration between Nigeria and South Africa would enhance the effectiveness of their forces and contribute to stability and collective defense across Africa.