Written By Shindong Bala; Edited By Godwin Duru
Nigeria and the Republic of Benin have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening defence cooperation and strengthening regional security as Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Gwabin Musa, called for a united front between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) to combat terrorism and transnational crime.
General Musa made the call during a three-day working visit to Cotonou, Benin Republic, where he said closer collaboration among West African nations was critical to defeating insurgency, dismantling cross-border criminal networks and restoring lasting peace across the sub-region.
The Defence Minister stressed that the region’s evolving security threats require coordinated military action, intelligence sharing and stronger border protection to prevent the spillover of terrorist activities while enhancing maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.
He was received at the Cotonou International Airport by Benin’s Minister of National Defence, Mr. Gildas Agonkan, who commended Nigeria’s leadership role in promoting stability across West Africa.
Agonkan praised Nigeria’s timely interventions in support of democratic governance and described the country as an indispensable partner in the fight against transnational crime.
The Beninese Defence Minister also lauded the impressive performance of the Nigerian Army contingent that participated in Benin’s National Day parade on August 1, describing it as a reflection of the strong military ties between the two countries.
As part of the visit, General Musa met with Nigerian troops stationed at Togbin, where he reaffirmed the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to improving troop welfare, operational effectiveness and military capacity to tackle emerging security challenges.
The Defence Minister also visited the Nigeria House in Cotonou, where Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, Mrs. Mopelola Ibrahim, reiterated that Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement with Benin remains focused on expanding bilateral trade and strengthening joint border surveillance to enhance regional security and economic cooperation.
