Abuja – On Tuesday, December 9, 2025, the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia signed a Memorandum of Understanding to deepen defence and military cooperation between the two nations. The agreement, which runs for an initial period of five years, was signed on behalf of Nigeria by the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Mohammed Bello Matawalle, and by Dr. Khaleed H. Al‑Biyari for the Saudi government.
According to a statement by Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of State, Defence, Ahmed Dan Wudil, the pact will cover strategic collaboration across security, military training, intelligence sharing, defence production and joint operations for sustainable security development. “The agreement will cover strategic collaboration across security, military training, intelligence sharing, defence production, and joint operations for sustainable security development,” Dan Wudil said.
The Defence Ministry welcomed the development, expressing confidence that the partnership will help address emerging security challenges in the country. “We welcome this development and are confident that the current security challenges in some parts of the country will soon be over,” the ministry said in a statement.
Officials described the MoU as a significant step in boosting bilateral relations and enhancing collaborative efforts to tackle security threats. The agreement is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s defence architecture, improve the capacity of the armed forces and promote joint initiatives aimed at regional stability.
The signing ceremony underscores the growing strategic partnership between Abuja and Riyadh, with both sides emphasizing their commitment to peace, security and sustainable development across West Africa and beyond.
