As part of ongoing military cooperation with South Africa, the Nigerian Army plans to send doctors for specialised training to enhance medical care for troops.
Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, disclosed the initiative during a bilateral meeting with the visiting Chief of the South African Army, Lt.-Gen. Lawrence Mbatha. The training will focus on critical areas such as forensic pathology and trauma-related critical care, essential for managing combat injuries and routine medical needs.
“These are opportunities we hope to explore in South Africa, including training our medical personnel in South African military health services and institutions”, Shaibu said.
The programme is part of broader cooperation between the two armies, including training, knowledge exchange, and capacity building, with details to be refined through continued engagement.
Shaibu also highlighted plans to expand the Nigerian Army’s aviation programme, with opportunities for pilot training in South Africa.
“We hope to leverage South Africa’s strong aviation establishment as we continue developing our own aviation wing”, he said, noting that the programme is expected to grow in the coming years.
The COAS emphasised that such collaborations are crucial in combating terrorism and insurgency, particularly in the North-east, where joint task forces operate. Both armies already maintain exchange programmes, with Nigerian officers training in South Africa and South African officers attending courses in Nigeria.
Shaibu identified areas for deeper cooperation, including cyber warfare, aviation training, and medical services. He also suggested Nigeria could provide training for South African personnel in counter-terrorism and counter-IED operations at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry and the Nigerian Army School of Mechanical Engineering.
Lt.-Gen. Mbatha said his visit offered an opportunity to learn from Nigeria’s operational experience, particularly in countering insurgency and improvised explosive devices, while both leaders explored further technical cooperation in specialised areas, including aviation.
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