March 09, (THEWILL) — The Chief of the South African Army, Lt.-Gen. Lawrence Mbatha, has praised the Nigerian Army for its professionalism and emerging strength in cyber warfare.
Speaking in Abuja on Monday during a historic visit to the Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare Command, Mbatha highlighted the deep-rooted military relationship between Nigeria and South Africa, noting that it predates formal defence agreements.
“Some of the officers and generals you have in South Africa today are products of institutions here in Nigeria. Our interaction did not start today; it started many years ago,” he said.
The South African Army Chief emphasised the importance of African militaries collaborating to tackle emerging security threats such as cyber attacks.
He lauded Nigeria for establishing its Cyber Warfare Command in 2020, describing cyber operations as a critical component of modern military strategy.
“We are learning from what you are doing here. Cyber warfare is resource-intensive, but it is a reality that we must confront in our strategic environment,” Mbatha said.
In a tribute to fallen soldiers, Mbatha acknowledged the bravery and sacrifice of Nigerian troops who lost their lives in the line of duty, noting that South Africa also understands the pain of losing personnel in operations. He stressed the importance of honouring these sacrifices.
Brig.-Gen. Kennedy Osemwegie, Commander of the Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare Command, described the visit as a historic milestone.
“Today is a memorable day that will remain in the annals of the history of this Command as we have the privilege of receiving the Chief of an Army, and we do not take this lightly,” he said.
Osemwegie also reflected on the unique and longstanding history shared by Nigeria and South Africa, which continues to shape the nations’ relations on the international stage.
He expressed hope that the visit would further strengthen bilateral cooperation through expanded exchange programmes and strategic engagements.
“I hope that, moving forward, both nations will expand their exchange programmes and engagements so that Nigeria and South Africa can continue to advance together to greater heights,” he added.
During the visit, Lt.-Gen. Mbatha also toured the Nigerian Army Museum, commending the creativity of the army and the richness of its history, which he described as an inspiration for military personnel across the continent.
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