Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has reaffirmed the country’s commitment to strengthening military and strategic ties with Brazil, following a high-level meeting with his Brazilian counterpart, José Múcio Monteiro Filho, in Brasília on Monday.
The bilateral talks, held during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to Brazil, also had in attendance General Renato Rodrigues de Aguiar Freire, Chief of the Joint Staff of the Brazilian Armed Forces. Discussions focused on expanding military cooperation, advancing joint defence-industrial projects, and boosting maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.
Badaru stressed Nigeria’s determination to fully implement the Nigeria-Brazil Defence Agreement, signed on June 24, describing it as “a strategic instrument for expanding collaboration, deepening technology transfer, and building industrial partnerships.” He noted that effective implementation was key to developing Nigeria’s local defence production capacity.
Highlighting the need for joint naval exercises and interoperability, the Minister underscored the importance of safeguarding strategic sea routes critical to both countries’ trade and security. “Closer collaboration on maritime awareness and interoperability will strengthen our ability to protect vital waterways and grow our blue economies,” he said.
Badaru further emphasized Nigeria’s ambition to position itself as Africa’s leading hub for defence manufacturing, reducing reliance on imports. He praised Brazil’s technological expertise, but called for swift transition from “agreements to action” with clear timelines and measurable results.
The Minister also acknowledged Brazil’s role in supporting maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea and in advancing the objectives of the South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone (ZOPACAS). He added that ongoing collaboration in counterterrorism and defence innovation was in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places national security and self-reliance at the heart of Nigeria’s development strategy.
Both nations agreed to establish a structured defence dialogue framework to ensure accountability and concrete outcomes from their engagements. The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both sides pledging to build a forward-looking defence partnership that reinforces Nigeria’s leadership role in regional and transatlantic security.
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