Nigeria and the Republic of Benin have agreed to deepen bilateral defence cooperation and strengthen joint 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, General Christopher Musa (retd.), hosted by his Beninese counterpart, Gildas Agonkan.
During the visit, both sides focused on harmonising regional security frameworks, strengthening intelligence sharing and reinforcing cooperation to safeguard democratic governance, stabilise land borders and secure the Gulf of Guinea against piracy and maritime crime.
General Musa and Gildas Agonkan
L-R: Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), and his Beninese counterpart, Gildas Agonkan met
Nigeria and Benin also reached a consensus on establishing seamless, real-time intelligence fusion mechanisms to enable both militaries to track, trace and neutralise transnational criminal networks and insurgent cells before they execute operations.
General Musa reaffirmed Nigeria’s zero-tolerance stance against terrorism and urged closer cooperation to deny violent extremist organisations safe havens in shared borderlands.
Nigeria also offered Benin a wider pursuit range for security personnel at the borders as part of efforts to prevent insurgent spillover and illegal trafficking.
During the visit, Musa inspected Nigerian Army troops deployed in Togbin, Cotonou, on the Peace Support Mission in the Republic of Benin under Operation ATILEYIN ALAFIA II.
“We are going to partner with the troops of the Republic of Benin to ensure that we stop all those bandits, all those criminals that are killing people in our own countries, so that we can deal with them,” the Defence Minister said while boosting the morale of the troops.
“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.”
General Musa also assured the troops of the Federal Government’s commitment to improving their welfare and providing the necessary support.
“A lot of good things that Mr President is preparing for you, we are following up to ensure that you live very well. We are providing the necessary aspects so that you can do your job. We know our job is very, very difficult, and most times people don’t appreciate what we are doing. But God knows we are doing our best, and we are securing Nigeria,” he said.
The delegation also visited the Centre for Post-Conflict Demining and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Operations and the Glo-Djigbe Industrial Zone, with the visits aimed at local capacity building in line with the Defence Minister’s Intelligence-Driven and Technology-Enabled Defence pillar.
The sessions provided opportunities for both countries to exchange ideas aimed at boosting development and industry in line with ECOWAS protocols on trade and the Africa Continental Free Trade Area.
General Musa also held diplomatic talks with Nigeria’s Ambassador to Benin, Mrs Mopelola Ibrahim, reiterating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to military welfare and regional peace.
The Minister has since returned to Abuja.
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