By ZAKAA LAZARUS
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has held bilateral talks with his counterparts from Tanzania and Zambia on the sidelines of the African International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) 2026 in Lagos, calling for stronger military cooperation to address Africa’s evolving security challenges.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, on 27 October, 2026.
In his meeting with the Chief of Land Forces of the Tanzania People’s Defence Force, Major General Fadhil Omary Nondo, on Monday, 26 October, 2026, General Shaibu called for expanded military training and professional exchanges to strengthen operational capacity.
The COAS emphasised collaboration in professional military education, intelligence sharing, joint training and exchange programmes across military institutions, including national defence colleges.
He highlighted the Nigerian Army’s training institutions, including the Nigerian Defence Academy, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Nigerian Army Training and Doctrine Command, and Nigerian Army Resource Centre, which continue to develop highly professional personnel for Nigeria and allied countries.
General Shaibu also cited the Nigerian Army’s extensive experience in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency in the North-East, anti-banditry in the North-West and North-Central, and peace support operations across Africa, noting that these offer valuable lessons for both armies through joint training and sharing of doctrines.
He encouraged Tanzania to take advantage of training opportunities in Nigeria and called for expanded exchange of instructors and students.
In his response, Major General Nondo commended the Nigerian Army for its operational experience and resilience, expressing Tanzania’s readiness to strengthen relations in leadership development, professional military education and capacity building. He noted that existing exchange programmes between both countries’ command and defence colleges had enhanced professional interaction.
In a separate meeting with the Commander of the Zambia Army, Lieutenant General Geoffrey Choongo Zyeele, General Shaibu called for stronger military cooperation among African countries through enhanced intelligence sharing, joint training and coordinated operations.
He observed that terrorism, insurgency, transnational organised crime and unconstitutional changes of government require a united and coordinated response, stressing that no country can address them in isolation.
He reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to strengthening military-to-military relations with Zambia and other partners, particularly in counter-terrorism, peace support missions, professional training and capacity development.
Lieutenant General Zyeele commended the Nigerian Army for its contributions to regional security and efforts in combating terrorism, expressing Zambia’s readiness to deepen cooperation to enhance operational effectiveness.
The engagements form part of General Shaibu’s activities at AFRIDEX 2026, which has brought together African military leaders, defence industry stakeholders and strategic partners to explore defence collaboration, technological advancement and collective responses to emerging threats.
