By ZAKAA LAZARUS
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has initiated plans for military cadet exchanges, expanded counterterrorism training and defence industrial collaboration between Nigeria and Rwanda to strengthen bilateral military cooperation and enhance regional security.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday, 19th October, 2026, by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele.
According to the statement, the initiatives, proposed during his official working visit to Rwanda, include arrangements for two Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) cadets to undergo a four-year training programme at the Rwanda Military Academy, reciprocal training opportunities for Rwandan cadets, and collaboration between the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and relevant Rwandan institutions to boost indigenous defence production.
During discussions with the Army Chief of Staff of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), Major General Vincent Nyakarundi, General Shaibu proposed expanded personnel exchanges and pre-deployment training for peace support operations through the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre (MLAILPKC). He said the Nigerian Army will initiate arrangements for the proposed cadet training programme aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two armies.
The COAS identified logistics, Military Police training and the exchange of operational experiences in counterterrorism and counterinsurgency as additional areas of cooperation. He emphasised the need to leverage the expertise of both armies to tackle emerging security threats and strengthen operational readiness.
On defence production, General Shaibu proposed closer collaboration between DICON and Rwanda’s defence engineering and procurement institutions to promote local military equipment production, technology development and self-reliance. He also paid tribute to the courage and sacrifices of the Rwandan Patriotic Army, particularly the 600 personnel who defended Kigali during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, describing their resilience and patriotism as enduring lessons in national resolve.
Responding, Major General Nyakarundi commended the Nigerian Army for providing specialised Military Police and Intelligence training to Rwandan personnel. He called for expanded professional military education through the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Army War College Nigeria and National Defence College.
The Rwandan Army Chief welcomed the proposed cadet exchanges and defence industrial collaboration, describing the visit as a demonstration of growing mutual trust and professional solidarity between both armies.
