Nigeria and Saudi Arabia have signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost defence and military cooperation, focusing on training, intelligence sharing, joint exercises, and capacity building.
The agreement was inked by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, and Saudi Arabia’s Assistant Minister of Defence, Dr. Khaled H. Al-Biyari.
This deal is seen as a “significant milestone” that’ll strengthen Nigeria’s defence architecture and enhance its armed forces’ capabilities.
Key areas of collaboration include technical assistance, operational support, logistics, counter-terrorism, and knowledge exchange.
The partnership aims to improve military professionalism through training, specialist courses, and joint drills, boosting interoperability.
The MoU is effective immediately, with a five-year term and an option to renew for another five years. Either party can terminate it with a three-month written notice.
The ministry believes this will support Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, insurgency, and organised crime, contributing to long-term security and defence modernisation.