Nigeria and Cameroon Strengthen Defence Cooperation to Secure Shared Southern Border

Nigeria and Cameroon have deepened their defence partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to improve security along their shared southern border. The agreement, aimed at strengthening regional stability and addressing evolving security threats on land and at sea, was signed on Tuesday in Yaoundé by Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), and Cameroon’s Minister Delegate at the Presidency in Charge of Defence, Mr. Joseph Beti Assomo.

The ceremony concluded two days of intensive discussions involving defence and security experts from both countries. Special Adviser to the Minister of Defence on Media, Leah Katung‑Babatunde, said the MoU provides a modernised framework for tackling emerging security challenges while reinforcing the longstanding defence relationship between Nigeria and Cameroon.

The MoU establishes a renewed framework for cooperation in securing the terrestrial and maritime domains along the Nigeria–Cameroon southern border and further strengthens existing mechanisms for bilateral defence collaboration. Priority areas identified during the engagements include enhanced operational coordination, intelligence sharing, logistics support, joint military training, personnel exchange programmes, and improved collective responses to emerging security threats.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Musa said the MoU would provide a structured framework for military cooperation and operations between the two countries, while further institutionalising collaboration in addressing shared security concerns. The discussions also highlighted the need to operationalise the recently established Combined Maritime Joint Task Force as a strategic platform for strengthening maritime security and protecting both economic and security interests within the Gulf of Guinea, where Nigeria and Cameroon remain key stakeholders.

On defence industrial cooperation, Musa reiterated Nigeria’s readiness to deepen collaboration in defence technology and innovation. He noted that a persistent challenge confronting defence capability development across Africa has been the limited indigenous production of military hardware and stressed the importance of fostering stronger regional industrial partnerships. Musa highlighted opportunities available under Nigeria’s Defence Industries Corporation framework and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to cooperation in defence manufacturing, technology transfer, research, innovation, and capacity development.

Responding, Assomo expressed his country’s interest in advancing bilateral cooperation in defence innovation and technology. He disclosed that a formal proposal framework is currently being finalised to translate the intentions into concrete bilateral arrangements in defence technology.

The agreement represents a significant milestone in Nigeria–Cameroon relations and reflects the shared commitment of both nations to promoting sustainable peace, safeguarding regional sovereignty, and strengthening collective defence through strategic cooperation.