Shaibu, Kagame Move to Deepen Nigeria–Rwanda Defence Ties, Boost Local Arms Production
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, and Rwandan President Paul Kagame have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening Nigeria–Rwanda defence cooperation to tackle terrorism, violent extremism and other transnational security threats across Africa.
Shaibu gave the assurance during a courtesy visit to Kagame in Kigali on Thursday, October 22, 2026, as part of efforts to deepen bilateral military relations and promote African-led responses to emerging security challenges.
The COAS conveyed the goodwill of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Nigerian Army to the Rwandan leader, while expressing appreciation for the audience and hospitality extended to his delegation.
According to a statement issued by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, Shaibu commended Rwanda’s transformation since the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, highlighting lessons in national reconstruction, institutional resilience and social cohesion.
He expressed sympathy for the victims of the genocide and paid tribute to the courage and sacrifices of approximately 600 personnel of the 3rd Battalion during Rwanda’s liberation struggle.
The Army Chief noted that leadership, discipline and national resolve remained critical to overcoming the complex security challenges confronting African countries.
The visit was part of wider engagements aimed at expanding military cooperation between Nigeria and Rwanda, particularly in counterterrorism, professional military development and defence technology.
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Shaibu also held separate meetings with Rwanda’s Minister of Defence, Chief of Defence Staff and Army Chief of Staff, Major General Vincent Nyakarundi, to explore opportunities for professional military exchanges and mutually beneficial defence partnerships.
A major highlight of the visit was the COAS’s engagement with the Rwandan Engineering Manufacturing Company (REMCO), where he commended Rwanda’s indigenous engineering and manufacturing capabilities and their relevance to defence modernisation and national self-reliance.
He expressed interest in technical exchanges, collaborative research, knowledge transfer and defence manufacturing partnerships that could strengthen Nigeria’s domestic production capacity, equipment maintenance and technical support systems.
The proposed areas of cooperation align with Nigeria’s efforts to enhance indigenous defence production and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers for military equipment and technical services.
Shaibu reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to working with the Rwanda Defence Force through specialised training, professional exchanges, joint exercises and defence technology cooperation.
He stressed that sustained collaboration, mutual trust and shared responsibility among African nations were essential to countering cross-border threats, protecting national interests and consolidating regional peace and stability.
The engagements underscore the Nigerian Army’s drive to build practical defence partnerships that enhance military capacity, improve interoperability and strengthen collective responses to evolving security threats across the continent.
The latest initiative also signals an interest in extending Nigeria–Rwanda military relations beyond operational cooperation to include defence manufacturing, technical expertise and indigenous capability development.
