Nigeria and the Republic of Benin have agreed to enhance bilateral defence cooperation, establish real-time intelligence sharing, and reinforce joint operations to combat cross-border insurgency and maritime crime.
The commitments were finalized during a three-day working visit to Cotonou by Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (Rtd), where he met with his Beninese counterpart, Gildas Agonkan, and the nation’s high military command.
Key outcomes and details of the bilateral visit include:
- Border Security & Hot Pursuit: Nigeria proposed expanding hot-pursuit operational limits along shared land borders to prevent insurgents, bandits, and traffickers from escaping across international lines.
- Intelligence Fusion: Both nations agreed to build seamless, real-time intelligence pipelines to track and neutralize transnational criminal networks and extremist cells before they strike.
- Regional & Maritime Security: Discussions prioritized securing the Gulf of Guinea against piracy while aligning regional security frameworks to protect democratic governance.
- Capacity Building & Trade: The delegation visited the Centre for Post Conflict Demining and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (CPADD) and the Glo-Djigbe Industrial Zone (GDIZ) to explore technology-driven defence strategies and advance trade under ECOWAS and AfCFTA protocols.
During the trip, Gen. Musa also inspected Nigerian Army troops deployed in Togbin, Cotonou, serving under the Peace Support Mission (Operation ATILEYIN ALAFIA II). Addressing the personnel, he reiterated the government’s zero-tolerance policy against terrorism and assured them of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to improving troop welfare and operational support.
Gen. Musa concluded his visit following diplomatic talks with Nigeria’s Ambassador to Benin, Mrs. Mopelola Ibrahim, before returning to Abuja.
