Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), has called for a unified security partnership between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) to tackle terrorism and cross-border crime.
Speaking upon his arrival in Cotonou for a three-day working visit to align regional defence strategies, Musa stressed that an inclusive security approach is essential to prevent insurgent spillovers across land borders and to secure maritime operations in the Gulf of Guinea.
He was received at Cotonou International Airport by Benin’s Minister of National Defence, Gildas Agonkan. Addressing defence officials, Musa noted that West Africa’s security challenges require coordinated action across all sub-regional blocs.
Agonkan commended Nigeria’s role in sub-regional stability and praised the performance of the Nigerian Army contingent during Benin’s National Day parade on August 1. He described Nigeria as an essential partner in combating transnational crime.
During his visit, Musa met with Nigerian troops stationed at Togbin, reiterating the Federal Government’s commitment to operational readiness and troop welfare.
He also visited Nigeria House, where Ambassador Mopelola Ibrahim highlighted ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at expanding bilateral trade and enhancing joint border surveillance between Nigeria and Benin.
