By Sumaila Ogbaje
The Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff ( CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa and Nigerien counterpart, Gen. Moussa Barmou, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to enhance security cooperation between Nigeria and Niger Republic.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, on Wednesday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) has earlier on Wednesday, reported that Gen. Musa paid a visit to the Chief of Staff of the Nigerien Armed Forces, in Niamey, Niger Republic.
The visit was a follow up on the promise by the Nigerian defence chief to return Niger back to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), having withdrawn her membership alongside Burkina Faso and Mali.
Gusau said the visit was to also forge a common goal towards deepening the fraternal bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Niger.
According to him, both parties recognised the importance of sustained dialogue and collaboration in addressing mutual security challenges and strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries.
“They emphasised the need for maintaining and expanding existing cooperations, including joint military operations, intelligence sharing, and tactical coordination.
“The Defence Chiefs acknowledged the significant impact of the proliferation of small arms and light weapons on security.
“They also recognised that the widespread accessibility of these weapons contributes to heightened instability and conflict in the region.
“They further agreed to intensify their efforts in curbing the illicit flow of small arms and light weapons, while pledging to collaborate on initiatives aimed at enhancing border security and supporting regional and international efforts to control and reduce the spread of these weapons,” he said.
Gusau said that the defence chiefs reaffirmed their commitment to resuming and strengthening collaboration, with a view to ensure regional stability and security.
He said that they also reaffirmed that Nigeria was universally known for adherence to its principle of good neighbourliness and would not be used to destabilise Niger or any of Nigeria’s contiguous countries.
According to him, Niger affirmed its readiness to resume active participation in security cooperation under the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJT).
He said that Niger’s defence chief, Gen. Barmou, also accepted the invitation to visit Nigeria, where they would finalise the modalities of the cooperation agreed upon.
According to Gusau, Barmou also agreed on the creation of a Nigerien advisory group to interface with its Nigerian counterpart, with the view to addressing the various issues of mutual concern as well as sustain lines of communications between both countries.
“It was also agreed that the Advisory Groups should have a joint mandate of developing measures towards strengthening bilateral relationships
“The CDS also paid a courtesy call on the Nigerien Deputy Minister of National Defence General Sani Kache,” he added. (NAN)