Nigeria and the Republic of Benin have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral defence cooperation, strengthening intelligence sharing and coordinating strategies to tackle cross-border security threats across West Africa.
The commitment followed a three-day working visit to Cotonou by Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa, where he held talks with his Beninese counterpart, Minister of National Defence Gildas Agonkan.
The two ministers agreed on the need for greater alignment among regional security frameworks as West Africa confronts evolving threats, including terrorism, insurgency, banditry, trafficking and maritime crime.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to protecting democratic governance, securing land borders and strengthening the security of the Gulf of Guinea against piracy and other forms of maritime crime.
According to a statement by the Minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Leah Katung-Babatunde, both countries agreed to establish seamless, real-time intelligence-sharing and fusion mechanisms.
The proposed system is expected to enable the two militaries to track and disrupt transnational criminal networks and insurgent groups before they carry out attacks.
Musa reiterated the Federal Government’s zero-tolerance stance on terrorism and called for stronger cooperation to prevent violent extremist groups from establishing safe havens in shared border communities.
“In Nigeria, security forces are showing no mercy to terrorists, bandits, and armed extremists,” he said.
As part of efforts to strengthen border security, Nigeria also proposed granting security personnel wider operational pursuit capabilities around border areas to prevent insurgent infiltration and illegal trafficking.
During the visit, Musa and his delegation inspected the Centre for Post Conflict Demining and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Operations (CPADD) and the Glo-Djigbe Industrial Zone (GDIZ), with discussions focusing on local capacity building, technology and defence-related industrial development.
The engagements also provided an opportunity for both countries to exchange ideas on economic and industrial cooperation in line with ECOWAS protocols and the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Musa also inspected Nigerian Army troops deployed in Togbin, Cotonou, as part of the Peace Support Mission in Benin under Operation Atileyin Alafia II.
Addressing the troops, the minister said Nigeria would work closely with Beninese forces to prevent criminals and armed groups from exploiting the countries’ shared borders.
“One of the reasons for my visit is to come here and meet their own Minister of Defence so that we can sit down and see how we can work out our operations together, so that we can stop these people from infiltrating through our borders.”
Musa assured the troops that the Federal Government remained committed to improving their welfare and providing the resources required for them to perform their duties effectively.
He also held diplomatic discussions with Nigeria’s Ambassador to Benin, Mrs Mopelola Ibrahim, reiterating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to military welfare and regional peace.
