Nigeria and Rwanda are moving to deepen military cooperation through cadet exchanges, expanded counterterrorism training, peacekeeping preparation and defence industrial collaboration, with the initiatives aimed at strengthening operational readiness and improving regional security.
Desk: Defence & Security
Date: 19 October 2026
Time: 18:00 WAT
Location: 📍Kigali, Rwanda
The proposals were discussed on Monday, 19 October 2026, during the official working visit to Rwanda by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu. They include arrangements for two Nigerian Defence Academy cadets to undertake a four-year training programme at the Rwanda Military Academy, reciprocal training opportunities for Rwandan cadets and closer collaboration between the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and relevant Rwandan defence institutions.
During talks with the Army Chief of Staff of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), Major General Vincent Nyakarundi, Lieutenant General Shaibu proposed broader personnel exchanges and pre-deployment training for peace support operations through the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre (MLAILPKC).
In a statement issued on 19 October 2026, the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, said the Nigerian Army would initiate arrangements for the proposed cadet programme as part of efforts to strengthen existing ties between the two armies.
The discussions also covered logistics, Military Police training and the exchange of operational experience in counterterrorism and counterinsurgency. The proposed cooperation is intended to enable both armies to draw on their respective expertise, respond to emerging security threats and strengthen their capacity to conduct military operations.
Defence Production and Professional Military Education
Defence industrial collaboration formed another key part of the discussions, with Lieutenant General Shaibu proposing closer links between DICON and Rwanda’s defence engineering and procurement institutions. The proposed partnership seeks to promote indigenous military equipment production, technology development and greater self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
The Nigerian Army Chief 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. He cited their resilience and patriotism as enduring lessons in national resolve and military leadership.
Major General Nyakarundi, in response, commended the Nigerian Army for providing specialised Military Police and Intelligence training to Rwandan personnel. He advocated expanded professional military education through institutions including the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Army War College Nigeria and National Defence College.
The Rwandan Army Chief also welcomed the proposed cadet exchanges and defence industrial cooperation, describing the visit as a demonstration of growing mutual trust and professional solidarity between the two armies.
🏷️ Tags: Nigeria-Rwanda Military Cooperation, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, Rwanda Defence Force, Nigerian Defence Academy, DICON, Counterterrorism Training
#ZigPressRelease #ZigDiariesDefence #NigerianArmy #Rwanda #MilitaryCooperation #DefenceProduction
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