The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of Nigeria, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, met with General Moussa Salaou Barmou, Chief of Staff of the Nigerien Armed Forces, in Niamey, Republic of Niger, on Wednesday.
The meeting aimed to deepen the fraternal bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Niger and explore opportunities to enhance security cooperation.
According to Defence spokesman Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, both leaders acknowledged the importance of ongoing dialogue and collaboration to address shared security challenges and strengthen the strategic partnership between the two nations.
“They emphasized the need to maintain and expand existing cooperations, including joint military operations, intelligence sharing, and tactical coordination,” Gusau stated.
The Defence Chiefs also discussed the significant impact of the proliferation of small arms and light weapons on regional security, recognizing that the widespread availability of these weapons contributes to instability and conflict. They agreed to intensify efforts to curb the illicit flow of small arms and light weapons, pledging to collaborate on initiatives to enhance border security and support regional and international efforts to control and reduce the spread of these weapons.
Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to resuming and strengthening collaboration to ensure regional stability and security. They emphasized that Nigeria, known for its adherence to the principle of good neighborliness, would not be used to destabilize Niger or any of its neighboring countries. Niger also expressed its readiness to resume active participation in security cooperation under the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).
Additionally, General Barmou accepted General Musa’s invitation to visit Nigeria, where they will finalize the details of their agreed-upon cooperation. They also agreed to establish a Nigerien advisory group to interface with its Nigerian counterpart, addressing mutual concerns and sustaining communication between the two countries. The advisory groups will jointly develop measures to strengthen bilateral relations.