Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, has embarked on official trips to Niger Republic and Republic of Cameroun, meeting with the top government functionaries of the two countries as part of efforts to strengthen bi-lateral military cooperation with Nigeria’s neighbours.

Acting Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Rabe Abubakar, disclosed that in Niger Republic, General Olonisakin met with the President Mahamadou Issoufou as well as the Chief of Defence Staff, General Seyni Garba, where discussion on issues that concern the two friendly countries were highlighted. He said General Olonisakin thanked the Niger President for the role the country is playing in counterterrorism operations in Lake Chad Basin and the country’s role in the formation of Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF).

“Nigeria’s CDS expressed delight that Boko Haram has been significantly decimated, a feat which called for stronger ties between Nigeria and its neighbours to ensure that no safe haven is provided for the retreating Boko Haram terrorists in the sub-region. To this end, General Olonisakin solicited for improved intelligence gathering and sharing, air asset operations and counter-Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) operations within the Lake Chad Basin countries and across ECOWAS states,” Brig.-Gen. Abubakar said yesterday evening in a statement.

He said that while in Cameroun, the CDS was received by that country’s Minister of Defence, Edgard Allain Mebe Ngo’o, and the country’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Rene-Claude Meka .where similar discussion, as in Niger Republic, occurred.

“One of the highlights of the discussion in Cameroun however, was in the area of stronger cooperation in maritime environment, especially in the Gulf of Guinea, to tackle the incessant case of bunkering, oil theft and piracy. General Olonisakin has since returned to Nigeria,” Brig.-Gen. Abubakar disclosed.