Nigeria has signed a military-technical cooperation agreement with the Russian Federation.
Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd), who is on an official visit to Russia, signed on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, while the Director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, Dmitry Shugaev, signed for the Russian Federation.
The ceremony was witnessed by the Nigerian Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Prof. Abdullahi Y. Shehu; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Auwal Zubairu Gambo; Defence Attaché in the Embassy of Nigeria in Moscow, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya; representatives of the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Air Force; senior military officers; and officials of the Nigerian Ministry of Defence.
This agreement terminates the earlier agreement between the two countries signed on March 6, 2001.
In a brief statement after the ceremony, Ambassador Shehu expressed appreciation to the Russian authorities, reiterating that Nigeria is not looking for alternatives but complementary and mutual benefits.
The signing of the agreement is a landmark development in bilateral relations between Nigeria and Russia.