Nigeria and Saudi Arabia have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening cooperation in defense and military affairs, Nigeria’s Ministry of Defense announced.
The agreement was signed in Abuja by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, and Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister of Defense for Executive Affairs, Khalid Al-Biyari.
Matawalle described the MoU as “an important step that will reinforce Nigeria’s defense architecture,” according to the ministry’s statement.
The five-year agreement outlines cooperation in military training, joint exercises, intelligence sharing, technical assistance and logistics. It can be renewed for an additional five years with mutual consent, while either party may terminate the deal with three months’ diplomatic notice.
Officials said the cooperation is expected to enhance the Nigerian Armed Forces’ training capacity, improve operational readiness through joint drills, and support more effective coordination in counterterrorism efforts.
Nigeria continues to face security threats from armed groups across several regions, including attacks by Boko Haram and the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP), alongside widespread banditry and kidnappings.
