FG, Saudi Arabia Sign Pact to Strengthen Military Cooperation

The Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to deepen defence and military cooperation between both countries.

According to the statement issued by the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of State for Defence, Ahmed Dan Wudil, the agreement will enhance strategic collaboration across key security areas, including military training, intelligence sharing, defence production and joint operations.

The MoU was signed on behalf of Nigeria by the Minister of State for Defence, Dr Mohammed Matawalle, while Dr Khaleed Al-Biyari represented the Saudi Arabian government. The ministry described the pact as a major step toward strengthening bilateral ties and improving responses to emerging security threats.

It added that the agreement would support Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to address insecurity, with the minister expressing optimism that the country’s security challenges would soon be curtailed through enhanced international partnerships.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima, while receiving participants of the Executive Intelligence Management Course 18 at the Presidential Villa, reaffirmed that President Bola Tinubu remains committed to addressing Nigeria’s security concerns with urgency and determination.

“I am impressed with the composition of EIMC 18. The security of Africa is a collective responsibility, given the complexities we face. President Tinubu is working round the clock to address concerns in the security sector. All hands must be on deck to salvage the situation,” he said.

The course participants, led by NISS Commandant Joseph Odama, presented their report titled ‘Non-state Actors in Security Management in Africa: Issues, Challenges and Prospects for Peace and Development’, which recommended harmonising community-based security initiatives into a wider national and continental framework.

Odama noted that the programme which hosted 78 senior participants from Nigeria and five African countries has now produced over 1,130 strategic leaders equipped to develop innovative responses to Africa’s evolving security challenges.