Nigerian Army, Indonesia strengthen defence ties

The Nigerian Army's Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has emphasized the country's commitment to enhancing defense cooperation with Indonesia. During a meeting at Army Headquarters in Abuja, Shaibu highlighted the mutually beneficial professional relationship between the two nations, particularly in areas such as military education, shared operational experience, and participation in multinational exercises.

He stressed the importance of continuous military-to-military engagement for building a professional, adaptable, and combat-ready force. Shaibu called for expanded cooperation in counter-insurgency operations, emerging technologies, and other areas of mutual interest, noting that increased exchange of expertise and technology would improve situational awareness, operational planning, and overall battlefield effectiveness.

The Army Chief also mentioned the ongoing expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions, which would require additional investment in infrastructure, training, technology, and institutional support. Indonesia's Defence Attaché to Nigeria, Colonel Aslam Setiawan, echoed these sentiments, reaffirming his country's commitment to strengthening bilateral defense relations with Nigeria.

Setiawan mentioned that professional exchanges and multinational exercises, such as Exercise Super Garuda Shield, provide valuable opportunities to enhance interoperability and share operational experience.