Nigeria's Army Chief Proposes Military Ties with Rwanda

During an official working visit to Rwanda, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, the Chief of Army Staff of Nigeria, proposed several initiatives to deepen military cooperation between Nigeria and Rwanda. The proposals were communicated through a statement by Colonel Appolonia Anele, the Acting Director of Army Public Relations.

Key proposals included sending two Nigerian Defence Academy cadets for a four-year training program at the Rwanda Military Academy, with reciprocal training opportunities for Rwandan cadets. Additionally, collaboration between the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria and relevant Rwandan institutions was suggested to promote indigenous defense production.

Other areas of cooperation identified were logistics, Military Police training, pre-deployment training for peace support operations through the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre, and sharing operational experiences in counterterrorism and counterinsurgency. Lt. Gen. Shaibu also acknowledged the sacrifices of the Rwandan Patriotic Army during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, highlighting their resilience as a lesson in military leadership.