The defence agreement signed in Cameroon’s capital marks a significant step in bilateral military collaboration. Nigerian Defence Minister, retired General Christopher Gwabin Musa, and Cameroon’s Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence, Joseph Beti Assomo, finalised the memorandum following two days of high-level consultations.

The updated framework addresses evolving security challenges along both land and maritime borders, including piracy and cross-border threats. Key provisions include joint military exercises, streamlined logistics support, and enhanced personnel exchange programs. Both nations also agreed to strengthen rapid-response mechanisms to counter shared security threats more effectively.

General Musa highlighted the agreement’s role in formalising military operations, stating it would create a structured approach to addressing common security concerns. Discussions also centred on the recently established Joint Maritime Task Force, designed to combat maritime insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea. Officials stressed the urgency of fully operationalising this force to safeguard regional economic and security interests.

Defence industrial cooperation emerged as a focal point during the talks. Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to fostering regional partnerships in defence technology and innovation, citing Africa’s reliance on imported military equipment as a persistent challenge. Musa emphasised the potential of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria to drive collaborative projects, including technology transfers, research initiatives, and skills development.

For his part, Joseph Beti Assomo expressed Cameroon’s keen interest in deepening bilateral cooperation in defence innovation. He revealed that formal proposals were being finalised to advance joint ventures in this critical sector.