By Bavoriat Clara
The Honourable Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, CON, mni, has received a high-level delegation from the Czech Republic led by the Junior Deputy Minister of Defence, Radka Konderlova, as part of efforts to deepen bilateral defence and security cooperation between both countries.
The delegation, which included the Czech Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Zdenek Krejci, and senior Czech officials, was hosted in Abuja where discussions focused on accelerating progress towards a comprehensive defence cooperation agreement.
In a statement signed by the Principal Superintendent of Press for the Director of Information and Public Relations, Pat Ituke, the Minister commended the Czech Republic’s sustained engagement with Nigeria, describing it as “a clear demonstration of friendship and a shared commitment to addressing common security challenges in Nigeria, West Africa, and the wider world.
”Badaru recalled earlier exchanges including the follow-up visit of Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff to Prague as proof of the seriousness of the partnership.
He noted that bilateral discussions initiated in January 2023 through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are now evolving into concrete collaborations that will deliver real benefits to both countries.
“This partnership goes beyond visits; it is about building lasting frameworks that will strengthen our armed forces, promote regional stability, and deepen the friendship between our two countries,” the Minister stated.
In her remarks, the Czech Junior Deputy Minister of Defence, Radka Konderlova, reaffirmed Nigeria’s position as the Czech Republic’s most important defence partner in West Africa.
She stressed that Nigeria is among the select countries with which the Czech Republic is pursuing a formal defence cooperation agreement, underscoring the depth of the commitment.
Both sides agreed to sustain regular high-level exchanges and fast-track negotiations in key areas of mutual interest, including training, capacity-building, logistics, and equipment interoperability.
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