By Joy Odor
The Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd) has called for the renewal of the existing bilateral Military agreements between Nigeria and France to reflect real-time security related needs of the two Countries.
General Magashi stated this when the Ambassador of France to Nigeria, Ambassador Emmanuelle Blatmann paid him a courtesy call at the Ministry of Defence Headquarters, Ship House, Abuja.
He said Nigeria and France are strategic partners and pointing out that the partnerships need to be rejigged to take it to higher levels of operability and deliverabilities.
The Defence Minister therefore welcomed a more proactive intelligence gathering mechanism and technological support to drive new information sharing regime in aid of the Military Campaigns in the country.
The General Magashi asked for technological transfer to galvanise the nation’s Military productive capabilities in the sector.
Earlier, the Ambassador of France to Nigeria, Ambassador Emmanuelle Blatmann who was accompanied on the visit by the Defence Attache, Embassy of France in Nigeria, Colonel Guillaume Dujon thanked the Defence Minister for the audience aimed at strengthening the existing bilateral agreements between the two Countries.
The Ambassadorr while requesting for technical interface between the two parties to examine critical areas of mutual benefits in the proposed rebirth of Memorandum of Understanding, gave assurances that her Country will reinforce efforts to end terrorism in Nigeria and Piracy in Gulf of Guinea.
She commistrated with the Nigerian Armed Forces over those who paid the supreme price inline of duty defending the Nation’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Signed- Mohammad Abdulkadri Special Assistant Media and Publicity to the Minister of Defence
15th February, 2022.
