Nigeria and the Republic of Benin have agreed to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation and coordinate their security efforts against cross-border threats across West Africa.
The agreement followed a three-day working visit to Cotonou by Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), who was hosted by his Beninese counterpart, Gildas Agonkan.
Discussions between the two countries centred on aligning regional security frameworks, improving intelligence sharing and strengthening joint efforts to protect democratic governance, secure land borders and combat piracy and other maritime crimes in the Gulf of Guinea.
Nigeria and Benin also agreed to establish seamless, real-time intelligence-sharing and fusion mechanisms that would allow their security forces to identify and disrupt transnational criminal networks and insurgent cells before they carry out attacks.
Musa reiterated Nigeria’s zero-tolerance position on terrorism and called for stronger cooperation to prevent violent extremist groups from exploiting border communities as safe havens.
As part of the proposed cooperation, Nigeria also offered to expand the pursuit range available to security personnel operating along the borders to help curb insurgent infiltration and illegal trafficking.
During the visit, Musa inspected Nigerian Army troops deployed at Togbin, Cotonou, as part of the Peace Support Mission in Benin under Operation ATILEYIN ALAFIA II.
Addressing the troops, Musa said Nigeria would work closely with Beninese forces to tackle criminals operating across the two countries.
“We are going to partner with the troops of the Republic of Benin to ensure that we stop all those bandits, all those criminals that are killing people in our own countries, so that we can deal with them,” the Defence Minister said while boosting the morale of the troops.
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He explained that closer operational coordination was necessary to prevent criminals and insurgents from exploiting the countries’ shared borders.
“One of the reasons for my visit is to come here and meet their own Minister of Defence so that we can sit down and see how we can work out our operations together, so that we can stop these people from infiltrating through our borders.”
Musa also assured the troops that the Federal Government remained committed to improving their welfare and providing the resources required for them to carry out their duties.
“A lot of good things that Mr President is preparing for you, we are following up to ensure that you live very well. We are providing the necessary aspects so that you can do your job.
“We know our job is very, very difficult, and most times people don’t appreciate what we are doing. But God knows we are doing our best, and we are securing Nigeria,” he said.
The Nigerian delegation also visited the Centre for Post-Conflict Demining and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Operations, as well as the Glo-Djigbe Industrial Zone.
The visits were linked to Musa’s intelligence-driven and technology-enabled defence agenda, with discussions focusing on local capacity building and the potential role of industry in strengthening national security.
The two sides also exchanged ideas on development and industrial cooperation in line with ECOWAS trade protocols and the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Musa later held diplomatic discussions with Nigeria’s Ambassador to Benin, Mrs Mopelola Ibrahim, where he reiterated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to the welfare of military personnel and regional peace.
The Defence Minister has since returned to Abuja.