Nigeria and Cameroon sign MoU on security around shared border

Nigeria and Cameroon have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at improving security along their southern borders, in a significant step to enhance regional stability and address growing security threats on both land and sea.

The agreement was signed on Tuesday in Yaoundé by Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), and Cameroon’s Ministerial Delegate to the Presidency in charge of Defence, Mr Joseph Beti Assomo.

The signing ceremony marked the culmination of two days of intensive discussions involving defense and security experts from both countries.

According to a statement by the Minister of Defense’s Special Adviser on Media, Leah Katung-Babatunde, the agreement provides a modern framework to address emerging security challenges while strengthening the long-standing defense ties between Nigeria and Cameroon.

The MoU establishes a new framework for cooperation in securing land and maritime domains along the Nigeria-Cameroon southern border and further strengthens existing bilateral defense collaboration mechanisms.

During the meeting, the two countries identified several priority areas for cooperation, including enhanced operational coordination, intelligence sharing, logistical support, joint military training, personnel exchange programs, and enhanced collective response to emerging security threats.

Speaking at the event, General Musa stated that the MoU will provide a structured framework for cooperation and military operations between the two countries, while institutionalizing further collaboration in addressing shared security issues.

The discussions also underscored the need to operationalize the newly established Joint Maritime Joint Task Force as a strategic platform to strengthen maritime security and protect economic and security interests in the Gulf of Guinea, where Nigeria and Cameroon remain key stakeholders.

On defense industry cooperation, the minister reiterated Nigeria’s readiness to deepen collaboration in defense technology and innovation.

He observed that one of the persistent challenges faced in developing defense capabilities across Africa is limited domestic production of military hardware and stressed the importance of fostering stronger regional industrial partnerships.

Musa further highlighted the opportunities available under the Nigerian Defense Industries Corporation framework and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to cooperation in the areas of defense manufacturing, technology transfer, research, innovation and capacity development.

Responding to this, Cameroon’s Minister Delegate to the Presidency in charge of Defense, Joseph Beti Assomo, expressed his country’s interest in advancing bilateral cooperation in the field of defense innovation and technology.

He also revealed that a formal proposal framework is currently being finalized to translate these intentions into concrete bilateral arrangements in the field of defense technology.

The agreement is an important milestone in Nigeria-Cameroon relations and reflects the two countries’ shared commitment to promote sustainable peace, safeguard regional sovereignty, and strengthen collective defense through strategic cooperation.