By Harriet Tornguvan
Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have entered into a new defence and military partnership following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing security collaboration between both nations.
The agreement was formalised by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, and the Saudi Assistant Minister of Defence for Executive Affairs, Khaled H. Al-Biyari.
Describing the milestone as long overdue, Matawalle said the pact will significantly strengthen Nigeria’s defence structures and expand the capabilities of the armed forces.
"The signing of this MoU is a significant milestone. It has been on the drawing board for some time, and its conclusion will strengthen Nigeria’s defence architecture and enhance the capacity of our armed forces,” he said.
Under the terms of the MoU, the partnership will run for an initial period of five years, with provisions for renewal upon review. Either country may, however, withdraw from the agreement with a three-month written notice communicated through diplomatic channels.
The pact outlines broad areas of cooperation including joint military training, professional education, technical assistance, intelligence sharing, logistics, and joint exercises, among other mutually agreed activities.
The Ministry of Defence has highlighted key benefits expected from the collaboration, including:
Enhanced capacity building: Expanded access to specialised training programs and professional military education for Nigerian personnel.
Improved operational readiness: Joint exercises and shared military doctrine to boost interoperability across the armed forces.
Strengthened counter-terrorism efforts: Closer cooperation in tackling terrorism, insurgency, and organised crime through intelligence exchange and operational support.
The Ministry described the agreement as a strategic step toward modernising Nigeria’s defence system, reinforcing national security, and deepening international military cooperation.
