A five-year Memorandum of Understanding, MoU has been signed between the Federal Government of Nigeria the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to strengthening defence and military cooperation between both countries.
The agreement, announced by the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Mohammed Bello Matawalle, seeks to deepen collaboration in key security areas, including “military training, intelligence sharing, defence production, and joint operations.”
The Special Assistant on Media to the minister, Ahmed Dan Wudil, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, titled, ‘Nigeria, Saudi Arabia sign five-year defence, military cooperation agreement’.
The statement reads in part: “the memorundum will remain in force for term of five years and may be renewed for a similar period.
“The MoU shall enter into force on the date of the last written notification, exchanged between the parties through diplomatic channels.
“The memorundum may be terminated at any time, by giving a written notice to the other party at least three months prior to the intended of termination.”
The pact marks a major step in expanding bilateral ties and addressing emerging security threats facing Nigeria and the wider region.
“Dr. Matawalle signed the MoU on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, while Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Defence for Executive Affairs, Dr. Khaleed H. Al-Biyari, signed for the Kingdom,” the statement said.
The Ministry of Defence described the partnership as timely and strategic, saying it aligns with Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to strengthen security collaboration with global partners.
“This agreement reflects our commitment to strengthening international partnerships for sustainable security development,” the statement noted.
“With this collaboration, we are confident that the current security challenges in some parts of the country will be addressed more effectively.”
The pact is expected to enhance Nigeria’s operational capacity and facilitate joint initiatives and deeper defence cooperation between both nations over the next five years.
It comes at a time when Nigeria confronts heightened insurgency and international scrutiny over decades-old killings
