Nigeria ratifies defense agreements with Niger, Britain

Source:Xinhua Published: 2013-8-15 8:52:48

Nigeria's Federal Executive Council (FEC) has ratified a bilateral agreement on defense with Niger and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on defense with Britain, Minister of Information Labaran Maku said Wednesday.

Maku told reporters after a weekly FEC meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja on Wednesday.

Maku said the council ratified both agreements following a presentation by the Minister of State for Defense Erelu Olusola Obada.

The minister said the Defense Cooperation Bilateral Agreement between Nigeria and Niger was aimed at providing mutual military support and security of both nations' common borders.

"Nigeria and Niger share common borders and common security challenges. The agreement will enable us to do more joint work in dealing with the issues of terrorism and threat of cross border terrorist activities," the minister said.

"We need closer cooperation in terms of sharing training and activities that will enable us improve in confronting the challenges we are facing in the northern part of the country," he said.

Maku said the MoU on Bilateral Military Cooperation between Nigeria and Britain and Northern Ireland is aimed at establishing a bilateral military cooperation with the framework of competent authorities as defined in the national legislation.

He said the MoU is also aimed at building an enduring defense relationship that will contribute to the security of each participant.

"We are also looking at the area of terrorism, sharing of information, training and cooperating to fight terrorism," he said.

Posted in: Africa

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