The Nigerian Government and its Rwanda counterpart have reaffirmed commitment to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation to tackle terrorism, violent extremism and other security threats across Africa.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, and Rwandan President Paul Kagame reaffirmed their commitment during the COAS courtesy visit to Kagame in Kigali on Thursday.
This is contained in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele.
Shaibu conveyed the goodwill of President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Army to Kagame, while appreciating the Rwandan leader for granting the audience and extending hospitality to the Nigerian delegation.
He commended Rwanda’s transformation since the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, noting that the country’s experience offered lessons in national reconstruction, institutional resilience and social cohesion.
Shaibu also expressed sympathy for the victims of the genocide and paid tribute to the courage and sacrifices of the about 600 personnel of the 3rd Battalion during Rwanda’s liberation struggle.
He stressed that leadership, discipline and national resolve remained critical to overcoming complex security challenges across the continent.
The COAS also held separate meetings with Rwanda’s Minister of Defence, Chief of Defence Staff and Army Chief of Staff, Maj.-Gen. Vincent Nyakarundi.
The discussions focused on professional military exchanges and opportunities to advance mutually beneficial defence cooperation.
He also visited the Rwanda Engineering Manufacturing Company (REMCO), where he commended the country’s indigenous engineering and manufacturing capabilities.
He described local defence production as strategically important to military modernisation and national self-reliance.
Shaibu expressed interest in technical exchanges, collaborative research, knowledge transfer and defence manufacturing partnerships to strengthen Nigeria’s indigenous production, equipment maintenance and technical support capabilities.
Shaibu reaffirmed the army’s commitment to working with the Rwanda Defence Force through specialised training, professional exchanges, joint exercises and defence technology cooperation.
He noted that sustained cooperation, mutual trust and shared responsibility among African countries were essential to countering cross-border threats, safeguarding national interests and consolidating regional peace and stability.
The engagements reflected the Nigerian army’s drive to build practical partnerships capable of enhancing military capacity, interoperability and collective responses to regional insecurity.
