Nigeria and Cameroon have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening defence cooperation and enhancing security along their shared Southern border.
This was disclosed in a statement published on Nigeria’s Ministry of Defence website on Wednesday following the signing ceremony held in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
The agreement was signed by the Minister of Defence, retired General Christopher Gwabin Musa and Cameroon’s Minister Delegate at the Presidency in Charge of Defence, Joseph Beti Assomo, after two days of deliberations by defence and security experts from both countries.
The MoU establishes a renewed framework for cooperation in securing both terrestrial and maritime domains along the Nigeria-Cameroon Southern border while reinforcing the longstanding defence relationship between the two nations.
Key areas of cooperation include enhanced operational coordination, intelligence sharing, logistics support, joint military training, personnel exchange programmes and stronger mechanisms for responding to emerging security threats.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Gen. Musa said the agreement would provide a structured framework for military cooperation and joint operations between Nigeria and Cameroon, while institutionalising efforts to address common security challenges.
The discussions also highlighted the need to operationalise the recently established Combined Maritime Joint Task Force as a platform for improving maritime security and protecting economic interests within the Gulf of Guinea.
On defence industrial cooperation, the Nigerian Defence Minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening collaboration in defence technology and innovation.
He noted that limited indigenous production of military hardware remains a major challenge to Africa’s defence capability and stressed the importance of stronger regional industrial partnerships.
Musa also pointed to opportunities under Nigeria’s Defence Industries Corporation framework and expressed readiness to collaborate in defence manufacturing, technology transfer, research, innovation and capacity development.
In his remarks, Assomo expressed Cameroon’s interest in advancing cooperation in defence innovation and technology.
He described the agreement as a significant milestone in Nigeria-Cameroon relations and a demonstration of both countries’ commitment to sustainable peace, regional sovereignty and collective security.
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