Nigeria and Saudi Arabia have formalised a new five-year defence partnership designed to deepen military collaboration between both nations.
According to a statement released by Ahmed Dan Wudil, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of State for Defence, the agreement covers strategic cooperation in security, military training, intelligence sharing, defence production, and joint operations. The pact aims to support long-term security development.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Mohammed Matawalle, and Dr. Khaleed H. Al-Biyari, who represented the Saudi Arabian government.
The Defence Ministry described the deal as a major step toward strengthening bilateral ties and tackling emerging security threats.
The Ministry expressed optimism that ongoing security challenges in parts of Nigeria “will soon be over,” citing the renewed collaboration as a key boost to national defence efforts.
Earlier, PUNCH Online reported that Matawalle faced public scrutiny over a resurfaced video from his tenure as Zamfara State governor, in which he commented on terrorism.
Former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode condemned the backlash as a “vicious media campaign,” calling the criticism “shameless and nauseating.”
Defending Matawalle, Fani-Kayode argued that the minister has remained loyal to President Bola Tinubu and has been instrumental in security operations.
He claimed that cooperation between Matawalle and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu has “resulted in the elimination of more terrorists in the last two years than in the previous eight combined.”
While praising the duo, Fani-Kayode criticised what he described as insufficient publicity for security successes. He urged Matawalle to “remain focused,” calling him “a ruthless and courageous fighter.”
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