Nigeria and Indonesia are moving to deepen military cooperation in areas including professional training, technology, counter-insurgency operations and the exchange of battlefield experience, as both countries seek stronger responses to evolving security challenges.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, made this known on Thursday when he received the Defence Attaché of the Indonesian Embassy in Nigeria, Colonel Aslam Setiawan, at Army Headquarters in Abuja.
For soldiers operating in increasingly complex security environments, access to modern technology, specialised training and lessons from other militaries can directly influence how quickly they understand threats, plan operations and protect lives in the field.
Shaibu described the longstanding defence relationship between Nigeria and Indonesia as mutually beneficial, particularly in professional military education, operational exchanges and participation in multinational exercises.
In a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the Army Chief called for broader cooperation in counter-insurgency, emerging technologies and other areas of shared military interest.
He said increased exchange of expertise and technology could strengthen situational awareness, improve operational planning and enhance the effectiveness of troops during military operations.
The Chief of Army Staff also disclosed that the Nigerian Army’s ongoing expansion from eight to 12 divisions would require corresponding investments in infrastructure, training, technology and institutional support.
According to him, the expansion is expected to strengthen the Army’s ability to carry out its constitutional responsibilities, making adequate preparation and capacity building essential to the effectiveness of the new formations.
Responding, the Indonesian Defence Attaché reaffirmed his country’s commitment to strengthening bilateral defence relations with Nigeria, particularly through professional exchanges and joint military engagements.
Setiawan identified multinational exercises, including Exercise Super Garuda Shield, as important platforms through which the two countries can improve interoperability, exchange operational knowledge and build capacity to confront contemporary security threats.
The renewed engagement places emphasis not only on military hardware, but also on the people behind the equipment — soldiers whose training, coordination and ability to respond to emerging threats remain central to the effectiveness of any defence system.
