Nigeria and Cameroon have signed a bilateral defence cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening security along their shared southern border, enhancing maritime safety in the Gulf of Guinea, and deepening military collaboration to tackle emerging cross-border threats.
The agreement, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in Yaoundé, Cameroon, by Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa and Cameroon’s Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence, Joseph Assomo, which establishes a renewed framework for joint efforts in addressing common security challenges confronting both nations.
The signing ceremony held n Wednesday marked the culmination of two days of intensive deliberations by defence and security experts from Nigeria and Cameroon, who reviewed existing security arrangements and explored new strategies for strengthening cooperation across land and maritime domains.
According to a statement issued by the Minister’s media aide, Leah Katung-Babatunde, the agreement is designed to modernise and institutionalise defence cooperation between the two neighbouring countries in response to evolving security threats in the region.
The statement noted that the MoU provides a comprehensive framework covering intelligence sharing, enhanced operational coordination, logistics support, joint military exercises, personnel exchange programmes, and strengthened mechanisms for collective responses to emerging security threats.
“In a major step toward regional stability, the Honourable Minister of Defence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Christopher Musa (retd.) OFR, today signed an MoU with the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence of the Republic of Cameroon, Mr Joseph Assomo, to deepen bilateral defence cooperation and secure their shared southern border.
“Key areas highlighted during the engagements included enhanced operational coordination, intelligence sharing, logistics support, joint military training, personnel exchange programmes, and strengthened mechanisms for collective response to emerging security challenges,” the statement read.
It added that the agreement establishes a modernised framework to counter emerging threats across both terrestrial and maritime environments while reinforcing the long-standing defence relationship between the two countries.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Musa described the agreement as a significant milestone in the defence partnership between Nigeria and Cameroon, noting that it would strengthen collaboration between their armed forces and improve the effectiveness of joint security operations.
He said the MoU would provide a structured framework for military cooperation and operations between both countries while institutionalising collaborative efforts aimed at addressing shared security concerns, including transnational crimes, border-related threats, and other emerging security challenges.
Beyond land border security, discussions between the two delegations also focused on enhancing maritime cooperation, particularly through the operationalisation of the Combined Maritime Joint Task Force.
The proposed task force was described as a strategic platform intended to improve maritime security, protect critical economic assets, and strengthen surveillance and response capabilities within the Gulf of Guinea, a region that remains vital to the economic interests of both countries.
The Gulf of Guinea is one of Africa’s most strategic maritime zones, serving as a major route for international shipping and energy exports. However, the region has also faced persistent security challenges, including piracy, armed robbery at sea, illegal fishing, and other transnational maritime crimes.
Defence officials from both countries expressed optimism that the renewed partnership would not only enhance border and maritime security but also contribute to broader regional stability, economic protection, and collective efforts to address security threats across Central and West Africa.