Nigeria and Benin Republic are deepening security cooperation along their shared border, with both countries moving to strengthen intelligence sharing, coordinated operations and joint responses to cross-border threats.
The development followed Defence Minister, General Christopher Gwabin Musa’s three-day working visit to Cotonou, where he held talks with Benin’s Minister of National Defence, Gildas Agonkan, and senior military officials.
According to a statement by the Minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Leah Katung-Babatunde, the discussions focused on countering terrorism, transnational crime, illegal trafficking and maritime insecurity while protecting the two countries’ land borders and the Gulf of Guinea.
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Real-time intelligence sharing
A major outcome of the talks was a proposal to strengthen real-time intelligence sharing between Nigerian and Beninese security agencies.
The initiative is expected to enable both countries to quickly identify and disrupt terrorist and criminal networks before they exploit the border for infiltration, trafficking or escape.
Nigeria also proposed greater operational flexibility for security personnel working around the border, particularly in dealing with violent extremists and criminal groups.
The proposed measures signal a shift from viewing border security as the responsibility of individual countries to treating the Nigeria-Benin frontier as a shared security space requiring joint action.
Security and economic cooperation
Musa also inspected Benin’s Centre for PPost-ConflictDemining and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Operations, as well as the Glo-Djigbe Industrial Zone.
The engagements explored cooperation in technology, post-conflict capabilities and industrial development, including opportunities under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The Minister also visited Nigerian troops deployed at Togbin under Operation ATILEYIN ALAFIA II, Nigeria’s Peace Support Mission in Benin.
He assured the troops of the Federal Government’s commitment to their welfare and operational needs, while urging closer coordination with Beninese forces to prevent armed groups from exploiting the border.
Musa’s engagement with Nigeria’s Ambassador to Benin, Mopelola Ibrahim, also highlighted the diplomatic dimension of the security partnership and the broader push for regional stability.
The proposed intelligence-sharing and joint operational mechanisms, if implemented, could strengthen Nigeria-Benin efforts to contain cross-border threats while supporting regional trade, industrial development and stability.
