Army to expand aviation programme, moves to train pilots in South Africa
The Nigerian Army is expanding its aviation programme and exploring opportunities to train its pilots in South Africa as part of efforts to strengthen its operational capabilities and the long-standing
The Nigerian Army is expanding its aviation programme and exploring opportunities to train its pilots in South Africa as part of efforts to strengthen its operational capabilities and the long-standing military relations between the two countries.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu disclosed this on Tuesday when he received the Chief of the South African Army, Lt.-Gen. Lawrence Mbatha, at the Army Headquarters in Abuja, during an official working visit to Nigeria.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army hopes to leverage the South African Army’s strong aviation capability to train its personnel.
He said, “The issue of the Nigerian Army aviation is very important to us. Of course, we are fully aware that the South African Army has a very good aviation establishment.
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“The Nigerian Army is currently developing its aviation capability and expects the programme to grow significantly in the coming years.
“Currently, we are building our army aviation and would like to leverage opportunities available to train our pilots in South Africa. The Nigerian Army aviation will start to grow exponentially in the next few years, and we are leveraging that.”
The COAS said the collaboration would form part of broader military cooperation between both countries, particularly in training and capacity building.
Shaibu also said Nigeria was looking to expand training opportunities for its medical personnel through South African military health institutions.
He said the Nigerian Army was seeking avenues to train more doctors in specialised areas to improve the quality of medical support for troops.
“These are opportunities that we will bring to the table and also opportunities that we would like to explore in South Africa,” he said.
“Other areas we can look forward to include training for our medical personnel in South African military health services and institutions,” he said.
“Currently, we are looking forward to avenues to train additional doctors in critical areas like forensic pathology as well as critical care, especially relating to trauma injuries,” the COAS said.
Shaibu said further details on the proposed areas of collaboration would be worked out through continued engagements between the two armies.
The COAS said the visit of the South African Chief of Army Staff would further strengthen the long-standing military cooperation and strategic partnership between both countries.
He noted that the Nigerian Army is currently confronting terrorism and insurgency, particularly in the North-East, and is therefore enhancing its operational effectiveness through training, modernisation and international collaboration.
According to him, most of the country’s security operations are conducted through joint task forces, making multinational interoperability and military partnerships important in addressing evolving threats.
The army chief said Nigeria and South Africa already have ongoing military exchange programmes, with Nigerian officers currently undergoing training in South African military institutions, while South African officers are also attending courses in Nigeria.
He disclosed that a Nigerian Army officer is studying at the South African Defence College, while a South African female officer is currently participating in a course at the Army War College in Nigeria.
Shaibu also identified several areas where both armies could strengthen collaboration, including cyber warfare, aviation training, and medical services.
He said the Nigerian Army is particularly interested in leveraging South Africa’s aviation capabilities to train pilots as it continues to develop its army aviation wing.
The COAS also said Nigeria would welcome opportunities for additional training in areas such as forensic pathology and trauma care through South African military health institutions.
He added that Nigeria could also provide training for South African personnel in counter-terrorism and counter-improvised explosive device operations at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry and the Nigerian Army School of Mechanical Engineering.
Shaibu expressed optimism that the partnership between both countries would continue to grow through regular engagements and knowledge sharing between their land forces.
