Brasília, Brazil – Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deepening defence cooperation with Brazil during a high-level bilateral meeting with his Brazilian counterpart, Mr José Múcio Monteiro Filho, on Monday.
The meeting, held on the sidelines of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to Brazil, focused on strengthening defence relations, advancing defence-industrial collaboration, and enhancing maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.
Also present at the meeting was General Renato Rodrigues de Aguiar Freire, Chief of the Joint Staff of the Brazilian Armed Forces. The discussions underscored the full implementation of the Nigeria-Brazil Defence Agreement signed on June 24, 2025, described by Minister Badaru as a strategic framework for expanding technology transfer, building industrial partnerships, and boosting Nigeria’s local defence production capacity.
“Nigeria is determined to build a resilient defence industry that reduces dependence on imports and positions our country as the defence-industrial hub in Africa,” Badaru said, emphasizing the need to move “from agreements to action, with clear timelines and measurable results that benefit both nations.”
He highlighted Brazil’s crucial role in supporting maritime security efforts in the Gulf of Guinea, a corridor vital to Nigeria’s economic lifeline, and praised its contribution to advancing the South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone (ZOPACAS) objectives.
Both ministers stressed that greater collaboration on maritime domain awareness, joint exercises, and interoperability would strengthen security along strategic sea routes while boosting both nations’ blue economies.
The ministers also agreed to establish a structured defence dialogue framework to drive continuity, accountability, and measurable progress.
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The partnership aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes national security, self-reliance, and industrial growth as pillars of Nigeria’s development strategy.
The engagement marks a major step in reinforcing bilateral ties and enhancing Nigeria’s leadership role in regional and transatlantic security cooperation.
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