Nigeria and Saudi Arabia have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening defence cooperation and strengthening military-to-military relations between both countries.
The commitment was made when the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Yousef bin Mohammed Al-Balawi, paid a courtesy visit to the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Abuja, on Wednesday.
The Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba, made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.
In his remarks, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, expressed appreciation for the visit and Nigeria’s longstanding relationship with the Kingdom.
Oluyede stressed the need to sustain and expand existing channels of defence cooperation, particularly in areas that would enhance the professional capacity and operational effectiveness of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
He said stronger institutional and professional linkages between the armed forces of both countries would contribute to addressing shared security challenges.
He appreciated the Saudi Government for its continued goodwill towards Nigeria and expressed optimism that the engagement would translate into tangible areas of defence cooperation.
Earlier, the Saudi ambassador had described Nigeria as an important partner in Africa and expressed the kingdom’s readiness to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation.
He expressed interest in closer engagement in the defence and security sectors, saying stronger ties would benefit both countries.
He reiterated the kingdom’s commitment to supporting enhanced cooperation between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
The visit underscored the commitment of both countries to advancing shared interests in peace, security and stability. (NAN)