By Princess-Ekwi Ajide, Abuja
The Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd) is seeking renewal of existing bilateral Military agreements between Nigeria and France to reflect real-time security related needs of the two Countries.
General Magashi made the call when the Ambassador of France to Nigeria, ambassador Emmanuelle Blatmann paid him a courtesy call at the Ministry of Defence Headquarters, in Abuja.
While pointing out that the partnership needs to be rejigged to take it to higher levels of operability and deliverabilities, the Minister said Nigeria and France are strategic partners and should welcome a more proactive intelligence gathering mechanism and technological support to drive new information sharing regime to aid Military Campaigns in the country.
The General asked for technological transfer to galvanise the nation’s Military productive capabilities in the sector.
Speaking 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.
While requesting for technical interface between the two parties to examine critical areas of mutual benefits in the proposed rebirth of Memorandum of Understanding, she gave assurances that her Country will reinforce efforts to end terrorism in Nigeria and Piracy in Gulf of Guinea.
A statement signed by the Special Assistant Media and Publicity to the Minister of Defence, Mohammad Abdulkadri, the Ambassador commistrated with the Nigerian Armed Forces over those who paid the supreme price inline of duty defending the Nation’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
