Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Retd.), has called for stronger security cooperation between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) to combat terrorism and cross-border criminal activities.
Musa made the call in Cotonou, Benin Republic, where he arrived on a three-day working visit to harmonise regional defence strategies.
According to a statement signed by the
SA(Media) to the Honourable Minister of Defence Leah Katung-Babatunde, the minister said West Africa’s security challenges require a coordinated regional response, urging ECOWAS and AES countries to find common ground to prevent insurgent spillover across borders.
He also called for stronger maritime security along the Gulf of Guinea.
Musa, who was received at the Cotonou International Airport by Benin’s Minister of National Defence, Gildas Agonkan, said regional cooperation was critical to dismantling terrorist and criminal networks operating across national boundaries.
In his remarks, Benin’s Minister of National Defence, Mr. Gildas Agonkan commended Nigeria for its role in promoting stability in the sub-region and praised the Nigerian Army contingent that participated in Benin’s National Day parade on August 1.
He described Nigeria as an important partner in efforts to combat transnational crime.
During the visit, General Musa also met Nigerian troops stationed at Togbin, where he reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to troop welfare, operational effectiveness and enhanced military capacity.
The minister later visited Nigeria House in Cotonou, where he was hosted by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Benin, Mopelola Ibrahim.
The ambassador said Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement with Benin is focused on expanding bilateral trade and strengthening joint border surveillance.
General Musa’s visit is expected to strengthen defence and security cooperation between Nigeria and Benin and promote wider regional collaboration against terrorism and transnational crime.