Nigeria and South Africa are expected to sign a military training pact, A Nigerian defense spokesman said Wednesday.
In March, the two economic powerhouses in sub-Saharan Africa signed six trade and cooperation agreements and set up a joint chamber of commerce.
Defence spokesman Ganiyu Adewale told AFP the date and scope of the military training were still being worked out.
Quoting Nigerian defence chief Ibrahim Ogohi and South African visiting navy chief John Relief late Tuesday, Adewale said the pact would cement existing relations between the two countries.
Ogohi said Nigeria would soon start the exchange of naval cadets with South Africa.
In his remarks, the South African navy chief said the military programme will involve two phases.
"The first level of cooperation is in the area of training. Second is the repairing of warships and the conduct of joint exercises between the two countries," Relief said.
The countries have signed six agreements covering agriculture, arts and culture, defense, police, science and technology and a memorandum of understanding on cooperation – Lagos (AFP)
