Nigeria and Saudi Arabia have signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding to deepen defence and military cooperation. The agreement was signed by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, and Saudi Arabia’s Assistant Minister of Defence for Executive Affairs, Dr. Khaled H. Al-Biyari. Dr. Matawalle described the pact as “a significant milestone,” adding that its conclusion “will strengthen Nigeria’s defence architecture and enhance the capacity of our armed forces.”
The Ministry of Defence said the pact covers training, joint exercises, intelligence sharing, logistics and technical support, with opportunities for professional education and specialist courses for Nigerian personnel. The deal may be renewed for another five-year term or terminated with three months’ notice. Officials say the cooperation will boost interoperability, support counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency efforts, and contribute to long-term security and defence modernisation in Nigeria.