Nigeria, S’Africa Armies Deepen Training Partnership to Combat Emerging Security Threats
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigerian Army to strengthening strategic military cooperation with the South African Army in a bid to enhance regional security and build professional military capacity across Africa.
Shaibu made this known on Tuesday while receiving his South African counterpart, Lieutenant General Lawrence Khulekani Mbatha, during an official working visit to the Nigerian Army Headquarters in Abuja.
During the meeting, the Nigerian Army chief stressed that closer collaboration among African militaries is essential for addressing emerging and complex security threats confronting the continent. He noted that shared training and operational knowledge are critical in tackling terrorism and insurgency, particularly in Nigeria’s North-East operational theatre under Operation HADIN KAI.
According to Shaibu, the Nigerian Army has developed robust training frameworks aimed at equipping troops with the skills required to counter modern security threats, including the use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) by terrorist groups and the increasing deployment of air assets in asymmetric warfare.
He explained that the Army has prioritised specialised training in IED detection, counter-IED operations, and battlefield survivability as part of its ongoing counter-terrorism campaigns. The Army chief added that enhanced cooperation with the South African military would further strengthen these training programmes and contribute to building a more capable regional security architecture.
Read Also:
Shaibu also disclosed that both armies are expanding collaboration in professional military education and capacity development. Nigerian officers currently attend courses at the South African Defence College, while South African officers serve as Directing Staff and instructors at key Nigerian military institutions such as the Army War College Nigeria and the Armed Forces Command and Staff College.
He said the exchange programmes are designed to deepen institutional ties while strengthening operational knowledge and strategic leadership development within both militaries.
Speaking during the visit, Mbatha said the engagement offered the South African Army an opportunity to study Nigeria’s operational experience in combating terrorism and other asymmetric threats.
He acknowledged the extensive battlefield experience of the Nigerian Army and expressed interest in learning how the force has structured its training and operational strategies to address evolving security challenges, particularly in countering the use of IEDs in insurgent warfare.
Both leaders also discussed opportunities to expand technical cooperation in specialised areas, including military aviation. Mbatha noted that the South African military possesses considerable expertise in aviation maintenance and pilot training, adding that stronger collaboration in the field could support the Nigerian Army in further developing its aviation capabilities.
The meeting ended with a mutual commitment to sustain joint training, operational exchanges and technical cooperation between both armies.
The two military leaders agreed that stronger collaboration between Nigeria and South Africa would not only enhance the operational effectiveness of their forces but also contribute significantly to strengthening stability, security and collective defence across Africa.
By PRNigeria
