The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, says the Nigerian Armed Forces is committed to deepening defence collaboration with Tanzania towards addressing security challenges facing both countries.

Mr Irabor stated this during the visit of participants of the ninth intake 2020/2021 of the Tanzanian National Defence College (TNDC) to the Defence Headquarters on Tuesday in Abuja, according to a statement by Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu.

The CDS, represented by the Director of Policy, DHQ, Maj.-Gen. Mainasara Masanawa, said there was a need for Nigeria and Tanzania armed forces to strengthen existing defence collaboration.

According to Mr Irabor, both militaries needed to cooperate in knowledge sharing and modalities to address diverse security challenges and promote peace and security in Africa.

He added that participants of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Nigeria had always paid a visit to Tanzania as part of their regional tour.

Earlier, the leader of the TNDC delegation, Brig.-Gen. Marianus Mhagama, expressed appreciation to the leadership of the Nigerian military for facilitating their trip to the country even in the critical period of a global pandemic.

The TNDC leader said Nigeria, Ghana, and the Republic of Congo were chosen for the tour because of their geographical locations as strategic neighbours.

He said the five-day study tour had exposed them to the history, politics, defence capabilities, foreign diplomacies, and economic and social-cultural behaviour of the people.

He disclosed that two officers from the Nigerian military were among the foreign participants and advocated more slots for personnel of the Tanzania military in the National Defence College Nigeria. 

(NAN)