Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, arrived in Kigali on Monday morning, October 19, 2026, for a strategic working visit aimed at reinforcing bilateral military cooperation and developing unified responses to security challenges across Africa.
​The Nigerian Army delegation touched down at Kigali International Airport at about 09:00 AM local time. Upon arrival, Lt. Gen. Shaibu was formally received by senior officers of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) alongside officials from the Nigerian High Commission in Kigali.
​The visit forms part of a broader diplomatic effort to align military strategy, exchange intelligence, and expand operational efficiency between partner nations in West and Central-East Africa. Official sessions will take place at the Rwanda Defence Force Headquarters in Kimihurura, Kigali.
​Core Objectives of the Bilateral Talks include; Counter-Terrorism & Intelligence Sharing, synchronising tactics against cross-border insurgency, violent extremism, and emerging security threats and Strengthening collaboration through joint military exercises, personnel exchange programs, and technical training. Bilateral talks will also enhance collective operational readiness for African Union (AU) and multilateral security mandates.
​Speaking on behalf of the Nigerian Army Headquarters, Director of Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, emphasized that the bilateral engagement aligns with the Army’s strategic vision for continental security cooperation.
​”The working visit of the Chief of Army Staff underscores our commitment to fostering robust partnerships with allied militaries, building mutual operational capacity, and tackling shared security challenges to guarantee peace across the continent,” Major General Nwachukwu stated.
​Commenting on the diplomatic visit, the spokesperson for the Rwanda Defence Force, Brigadier General Ronald Rwivanga, welcomed the delegation and highlighted the shared defense objectives between Kigali and Abuja.
​”This bilateral engagement reflects the strong bond between the Rwanda Defence Force and the Nigerian Army, providing an effective platform to deepen strategic cooperation, share operational insights, and contribute to continental security frameworks,” Brigadier General Rwivanga noted.
​Over the coming days, Lt. Gen. Shaibu is scheduled to hold closed-door strategic dialogues with Rwanda’s Chief of Defence Staff, tour key defence training institutions in Kigali, and pay a solemn visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial to pay respects to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
