Nigeria, Cameroon Strengthen Security Cooperation on Shared Border

Nigeria and Cameroon have officially inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focused on enhancing bilateral defence collaboration. The agreement primarily targets improving security along their shared southern border and reinforcing maritime safety within the critical Gulf of Guinea region. The signing ceremony took place in Yaoundé on Wednesday, following two days of extensive discussions among defence and security experts from both nations.

Representing Nigeria, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), signed the pact, while Cameroon's Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence, Mr Joseph Assomo, signed on behalf of his country. A statement released on Wednesday by Leah Katung-Babatunde, Musa’s media aide, outlined the comprehensive scope of the MoU. It establishes a robust framework for cooperation spanning both land and sea domains, encompassing crucial aspects such as intelligence sharing, operational coordination, logistical support, joint military training exercises, personnel exchange programs, and the development of collective response mechanisms to address evolving security threats.

The statement partly read: “In a major step toward regional stability, the Honourable Minister of Defence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Christopher Musa (retd.) OFR, today signed an MoU with the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence of the Republic of Cameroon, Mr Joseph Assomo, to deepen bilateral defence cooperation and secure their shared southern border. The signing ceremony in Yaoundé concluded two days of intensive deliberations by defence and security experts from both nations. The agreement establishes a modernised framework to counter emerging threats across both terrestrial and maritime domains. The Memorandum of Understanding establishes a renewed framework for cooperation in securing the terrestrial and maritime domains along the Nigeria–Cameroon southern border and reinforces the long-standing defence relationship between both nations. Key areas highlighted during the engagements included enhanced operational coordination, intelligence sharing, logistics support, joint military training, personnel exchange programmes, and strengthened mechanisms for collective response to emerging security challenges.”

During the signing event, General Musa emphasized that the agreement would now provide a structured framework for military cooperation and joint operations, thereby institutionalizing efforts to tackle common security challenges shared by both countries.

Discussions also covered the implementation of the Combined Maritime Joint Task Force, identified as a vital platform for boosting maritime security and safeguarding economic interests within the Gulf of Guinea, where both Nigeria and Cameroon are significant players. Regarding defence industry collaboration, General Musa acknowledged that a persistent hurdle for African defence capability development has been the limited local production of military hardware. He underscored the necessity for stronger regional industrial partnerships, highlighting opportunities available through Nigeria’s Defence Industries Corporation framework and reiterating Nigeria's willingness to collaborate on defence manufacturing, technology transfer, research, and innovation.

In his remarks, Mr. Assomo expressed keen interest in advancing cooperation in defence technology, confirming that a formal proposal framework is currently being finalized to solidify bilateral arrangements in this area. Both governments have hailed the signing as a pivotal moment in Nigeria-Cameroon relations, reinforcing their mutual dedication to regional peace and sovereignty. This development occurs just days after reports of alleged incursions by armed Cameroonian soldiers into the Danare community in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State, which caused widespread alarm.