Nigeria has ratified existing bilateral agreements with the United Kingdom and Niger Republic to contain insurgency.
The agreements, seek to promote military cooperation between Nigeria and the United Kingdom on one hand, and promoting joint patrol along common borders with Niger Republic on the other hand.
Islamist insurgents, Boko Haram, have carried out series of deadly attacks in the last two years and thousands of lives have been lost in the process, mostly in the northern part of the country.
To stem the rising wave of insurgency, President Goodluck Jonathan, in May declared a state of emergency in three north-eastern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.
Labaran Maku, Minister of Information while briefing State House correspondents on Wednesday, said the Federal Executive Council (FEC) ratified the agreements after extensive deliberation on the submission made by the Minister of State for Defence, Olusola Obada.
According to Maku, the cooperation with Niger Republic “is aimed at providing mutual military support, security of their common borders, intervention assistance, military assistance, exchange of intelligence on internal and external security, joint military exercise and operations.
“The MoU on bilateral military cooperation between Nigeria and UK is aimed at establishing a bilateral military cooperation within the framework of our competent authorities as defined in the national legislation”.He added that the agreements would also entail sharing experiences, information and training, in addition to maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, as well as cooperation in terms of logistic supply.
Speaking on the state of emergency, Obada, commended the military for their achievements of so far, saying key commanders of the insurgents have been apprehended and many killed, even as peace is gradually returning to the troubled areas.
“It has halted the threat to Nigeria’s unity. As you know the unity of this country is paramount and Mr. President as the leader of this country has ensured that the unity of this country is preserved and protected. If you will recall, you heard that the insurgency were already hoisting their flags all over some of the areas especially Bornu,” she said.
