June 17, (THEWILL) — The Federal Government of Nigeria and the Republic of Cameroon have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on security cooperation to strengthen joint military operations, enhance intelligence sharing, and improve the protection of their shared southern border against emerging security threats.
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, the agreement marked what both countries described as a significant step toward deepening bilateral defence cooperation.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by the Special Adviser on Media to the Minister of Defence, Leah Katung-Babatunde, who noted that the agreement followed two days of intensive deliberations by defence and security experts from both countries in the Cameroonian capital.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, Musa described the MoU as a major breakthrough in efforts by both neighbouring countries to reinforce their long-standing military relationship and create a modern framework for tackling growing security challenges across both land and maritime domains.
According to him, the agreement establishes a renewed structure for cooperation in securing the Nigeria-Cameroon southern border while strengthening collective efforts to combat transnational crimes, insurgency, maritime insecurity, and other emerging threats confronting the region.
The minister explained that key components of the agreement include enhanced operational coordination between the two armed forces, intelligence-sharing mechanisms, logistics support systems, joint military training programmes, personnel exchange initiatives, and improved frameworks for coordinated responses to security emergencies.
Musa said the MoU would provide a more structured operational framework for military cooperation between the two countries and institutionalise collaborative security operations to address common threats affecting regional stability.
A major focus of the discussions, according to the minister, was the urgent need to operationalise the newly established Combined Maritime Joint Task Force, which both nations see as a strategic platform to strengthen maritime security within the Gulf of Guinea.
He noted that the Gulf of Guinea remains critical to the economic and security interests of both nations, making sustained collaboration necessary to combat piracy, illegal trafficking, and other maritime crimes threatening regional commerce and security.
Beyond immediate security concerns, Musa reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Cameroon in defence technology and innovation, stressing that one of Africa’s longstanding challenges in defence development has remained the limited indigenous production of military hardware.
He said Nigeria was actively working to change that reality through the framework of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, which he described as a strategic platform for advancing local defence manufacturing capacity and reducing dependence on foreign military equipment.
The minister further reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to collaborate with Cameroon in defence manufacturing, technology transfer, research, innovation, and capacity development, saying stronger regional industrial partnerships would be essential to improving Africa’s collective defence capabilities.
On his part, Assomo expressed Cameroon’s strong interest in expanding bilateral cooperation in defence innovation and technology, disclosing that his government was already finalising a formal proposal framework to concretise future arrangements between the two countries in defence technology collaboration.
The latest pact comes amid increasing concerns over cross-border insecurity in West and Central Africa, with both nations seeking stronger partnerships to tackle terrorism, organised crime, maritime insecurity, and other transnational security challenges capable of undermining regional stability.
Security analysts say the agreement represents a major milestone in relations between Nigeria and Cameroon, reflecting a shared commitment by both countries to promote sustainable peace, strengthen regional sovereignty, and build stronger collaborative mechanisms to address evolving security threats within the sub-region.
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