Nigeria, Israel strengthen Military Cooperation as new Defence agreement looms

The Ministry of Defence has restated the Nigerian government’s commitment to deepening military cooperation with the State of Israel.

This assurance was given by the Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Gabriel Aduda, during a courtesy visit by the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.

Aduda, in a statement released on Thursday, said both countries had productive discussions on ways to improve defence collaboration, strengthen mutual security arrangements, and explore new opportunities for military training and capacity building for the Nigerian Armed Forces.

He stressed the importance of expanding defence partnerships in response to today’s growing global security concerns. According to him, strategic areas like joint operations, information exchange, and defence modernisation are essential in addressing these challenges.

Aduda further revealed that plans were underway to conclude a new bilateral defence agreement, which would focus on boosting technical collaboration in the area of defence industry development. “The ministry will engage in strategic initiatives to replicate successful Israeli military cooperation frameworks in Nigeria, thereby enhancing our national defence architecture,” he stated.

Responding, Ambassador Freeman expressed appreciation for the warm reception and described the meeting as a positive step towards securing innovative defence solutions for both countries. He also formally invited Nigeria’s Ministry of Defence to visit Israel to solidify the growing partnership and further explore areas of cooperation.