Buratai Hails Nigeria–Bangladesh Defence Partnership, Calls for Deeper Military Ties
By Matthew Eloyi
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (retd.), has endorsed the growing defence cooperation between Nigeria and Bangladesh, describing the partnership as a strategic opportunity to strengthen military capacity, improve counter-terrorism operations and advance South–South security collaboration.
Buratai, who is the Patron of the Institute of Security Nigeria (ISN) and an alumnus of the National Defence College Bangladesh, commended the collaboration following the announcement of plans to deepen defence ties between the Nigerian Army and Bangladesh.
The ISN, in a statement issued in Lagos on October 9, said the initiative was announced on October 8 by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, and Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Miah Md Mainul Kabir, at Army Headquarters in Abuja.
The institute described the partnership as timely and strategically important, noting that Nigeria and Bangladesh share extensive experience in counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency, disaster management and civilian protection.
It disclosed that 154 Nigerian military officers had completed strategic courses at the National Defence College Bangladesh, describing the development, alongside the approval of a Bangladesh National Defence College Alumni Association, as significant milestones that should be sustained.
According to the institute, the collaboration offers both countries an opportunity to strengthen their security capabilities through mutual learning, professional military education and the exchange of operational expertise.
It noted that Nigeria continues to confront terrorism, banditry, violent extremism, farmer-herder conflicts, drone threats, cybercrime and humanitarian emergencies, while Bangladesh faces similar security challenges alongside climate-related risks.
The ISN said both countries had developed indigenous, cost-effective approaches to addressing complex security threats, making their experiences valuable to one another.
It added that the partnership was anchored in international and regional legal frameworks, including the United Nations Charter, the African Union Constitutive Act, International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Conventions, as well as Nigeria’s National Security Strategy and Defence Policy.
The institute identified several areas for expanded cooperation, including counter-terrorism, counter-drone warfare, counter-improvised explosive device operations, urban and jungle warfare, civil-military relations and humanitarian assistance.
Other proposed areas include the exchange of affordable security technologies, such as tactical drones, surveillance sensors, field hospitals and disaster-resilient communications equipment, as well as joint United Nations peacekeeping training and research into climate security.
It also highlighted opportunities for defence industry collaboration, strategic leadership development, refugee and internally displaced persons management, and stronger institutional partnerships between the National Defence College Nigeria, Nigerian Army University Biu, Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji and their Bangladeshi counterparts.
However, the ISN cautioned that funding constraints, technology interoperability, information security, bureaucratic delays, doctrinal differences and overdependence on individual personalities could undermine the sustainability of the initiative if not properly addressed.
To ensure long-term success, the institute recommended upgrading the existing memorandum of understanding into a comprehensive Bilateral Defence Cooperation Agreement to be signed at the highest political level and ratified by the respective parliaments.
It also proposed an annual Nigeria–Bangladesh Defence Ministers Dialogue, dedicated funding for the partnership, and at least 30 scholarships annually for Nigerian military personnel.
The institute further called for agreements covering mutual legal assistance, classified information and defence industry cooperation, alongside a joint training calendar for 2027 to 2030, a Joint Implementation Secretariat and structured intelligence-sharing protocols.
It urged both countries to extend the cooperation beyond their armies to include the navies, air forces and relevant security agencies, including the police, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, immigration, customs and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
The ISN said effective implementation could improve combat readiness, border and maritime security, early-warning systems, counter-terrorism accountability, de-radicalisation efforts and the management of internally displaced persons.
It added that the partnership could also strengthen diplomatic relations, promote trade and enhance professional military education while encouraging greater compliance with international humanitarian standards.
The institute called on citizens, traditional institutions, civil society organisations, the media, the private sector and academic institutions to support the initiative, stressing that security requires collective responsibility.
It said civil society organisations should promote transparency and respect for human rights, while encouraging at least 30 per cent female participation in the partnership. It also urged businesses to invest in affordable security technologies and universities to deepen research collaboration.
As part of its contribution, the ISN announced plans to establish a Nigeria–Bangladesh Security Cooperation Desk at the University of Lagos Consult Building, organise quarterly policy roundtables, publish policy briefs and offer professional certifications.
The institute said it would also serve as a think tank to government on security cooperation and policy development.
Reaffirming its endorsement, the ISN described the Nigeria–Bangladesh partnership as a strategic imperative and a potential multiplier for national security, urging both countries to move from declarations to sustained institutional implementation.
Buratai’s endorsement underscores the importance of leveraging his experience as a former army chief and his links with Bangladesh’s military education system to strengthen bilateral security relations and promote practical cooperation between the two countries.