Nigeria and Cameroon have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen defence cooperation and improve security along their shared southern border.
Leah Katung-Babatunde, Special Media Adviser to the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
The statement revealed that Musa signed the agreement with Joseph Beti Assomo, Cameroon’s Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence, in Yaoundé on Tuesday.
“The signing ceremony in Yaoundé concluded two days of intensive deliberations by defence and security experts from both nations,” the statement read.
“The agreement establishes a modernised framework to counter emerging threats across both terrestrial and maritime domains.
“The Memorandum of Understanding establishes a renewed framework for cooperation in securing the terrestrial and maritime domains along the Nigeria–Cameroon southern border and reinforces the long-standing defence relationship between both nations.
“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.”
Speaking at the ceremony, Musa said the agreement would create a platform for deeper military collaboration between both countries and improve efforts to tackle common security threats.
The statement added that both sides discussed ways to activate the combined maritime joint task force aimed at boosting maritime security and safeguarding economic and security interests in the Gulf of Guinea.
On defence industrial cooperation, Katung-Babatunde said Musa reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to partnerships in defence technology and innovation.
The minister noted that Africa’s defence sector continues to face challenges due to limited local production of military equipment, stressing the importance of stronger regional cooperation.
“The Minister further highlighted the opportunities created under Nigeria’s Defence Industries Corporation framework and reaffirmed Nigeria’s openness to collaboration in defence manufacturing, technology transfer, research, innovation, and capacity development,” the statement added.
“In response, Joseph Beti Assomo, Cameroon’s Minister Delegate at the Presidency in Charge of Defence, expressed interest in advancing cooperation in defence innovation and technology, and confirmed that a formal proposal framework is currently being finalised to concrete bilateral arrangements in defence technology.
“The agreement marks a pivotal milestone in Nigeria–Cameroon relations, reinforcing both nations’ shared commitment to sustainable peace, regional sovereignty, and collaborative defence.”
