Nigeria, Liberia collaborate to fight regional terrorism

IN a bid to curb terrorism threatening the West African sub-region, Nigerian and Liberia have agreed to partner to confront the challenge.

The ministers of defence of both countries made this commitment yesterday in Abuja when they met and decided that collaborative efforts in the sub-region would yield better results.

The Nigerian Defence Minister, Mohammed Dan-Ali said: “Nigeria consider Liberia as a key partner, we rely on each other, the relationship is waxing stronger each day. We will continue to support Liberia so that the rank and file and officers of that country will stand anywhere in the world.”

He promised that the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Nigeria and Liberia to offer such military assistance can only be built upon and developed to meet the challenges of contemporary times.

“We are making it current, and looking at how best the two armed forces will partner in fighting this global menace of terrorism in the eastern part of our country.”

The Liberian Minister of Defence, Browney Samukai, said his country is ready to partner with Nigeria in fighting insurgency and combat the menace in the entire sub-region.

“In whatever way Liberia can help from the military side, we are more than glad to partner with you in that regard. It is our hope that our discussions will go further to broaden peace within the region and to join the people of Nigeria in supporting your efforts against terrorism and extremism,” he said.

While noting the imperative of maintaining the existing MoU for eight years between the two countries on rebuilding the Liberian armed forces this year, Samukai said: “It is important that we continue our bilateral discussions within the context of the draw down so that our two countries’ strategic interest can continue to be maintained and to also appreciate the intent of the agreement we signed some years ago.”