Nigeria and Cameroon have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening defence cooperation and enhancing security along their shared southern border in a significant move to promote regional stability and address emerging security threats.
According to an official signed statement by the Special Adviser (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Defence, Leah Katung-Babatunde, the agreement was signed in Yaoundé by the Honourable Minister of Defence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), OFR, and Cameroon’s Minister Delegate at the Presidency in Charge of Defence, Mr. Joseph Beti Assomo.
The statement noted that the signing ceremony marked the culmination of two days of intensive deliberations involving defence and security experts from both countries and established a modernised framework for addressing evolving security challenges across both terrestrial and maritime domains.
Under the agreement, Nigeria and Cameroon will deepen cooperation in securing their shared border while reinforcing their longstanding defence relationship. The MoU outlines key areas of collaboration, including enhanced operational coordination, intelligence sharing, logistics support, joint military training, personnel exchange programmes, and improved mechanisms for responding collectively to emerging security threats.
Speaking during the ceremony, General Musa stated that the agreement would provide a structured framework for military cooperation and operations between both countries, while institutionalising collaboration in tackling common security concerns.
The discussions also highlighted the need to operationalise the recently established Combined Maritime Joint Task Force as a strategic platform for strengthening maritime security and protecting economic and security interests within the Gulf of Guinea, where both nations play critical roles.
On defence industrial cooperation, General Musa reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to expanding partnerships in defence technology and innovation. He observed that limited indigenous production of military hardware remains a major challenge to Africa’s defence capability development and stressed the need for stronger regional industrial partnerships.
The Defence Minister further underscored opportunities available under Nigeria’s Defence Industries Corporation framework, expressing the country’s readiness to collaborate in defence manufacturing, technology transfer, research, innovation, and capacity development.
In his remarks, Mr. Assomo expressed Cameroon’s interest in advancing cooperation in defence innovation and technology. He disclosed that a formal proposal framework is being finalised to translate the bilateral understanding into concrete arrangements in defence technology and related areas.
The agreement is expected to strengthen bilateral relations between Nigeria and Cameroon while advancing their shared commitment to sustainable peace, regional sovereignty, and collective security across the region.
