By Linus Aleke
Federal Government (FG), has taken steps to strengthen the bilateral military cooperation with India, as part of the composite strategy to curtail if not completely eradicate terrorism and other emerging security threats in the country.
The Minister of Defence Maj Gen Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd), on Tuesday, demanded quick action towards implemention of bilateral military agreements between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of India.
General Magashi made this demand, when the Indian Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, Shriv Nuraleedharam, paid him a courtesy call, at the Ministry of Defence Headquarters, Ship House Abuja.
He said time is of essence in achieving the desired end, of improved collaboration to support the Armed Forces of Nigeria in the areas of equipments in aid to the current fight against banditry, terrorism and piracy in the nation’s territorial waters.
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While appreciating the Visit of the Indian delegation, the Defence Minister placed on record the valued military capacity building programmes, trainings and intelligence sharing between the two countries and assured them that he will attend the forth coming Defence Expo in India slated for October this year.
The Special Assistant to the Minister of Defence on Media and Publicity, Mr. Mohammad Abdulkadri, in a statement said, the Indian Minister of State For External Affairs Shriv Muraleedharam who led 8- man delegation on the courtesy call applauded the Defence Minister for oiling the wheel of progress of the age-long Military bilateral partnership between the two countries.
He recalled that the military cooperation between the two countries dates back to 1958, two year before Nigeria’s independence.
