Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has undertaken a high-level courtesy visit to Russia’s Minister of Defence, Andrey Belousov, at the Ministry of Defence Headquarters in Moscow, signaling a renewed push to deepen military ties between the two nations.
The visit, which took place on Saturday, May 10, 2025, formed part of broader diplomatic efforts aimed at strengthening bilateral defence cooperation. During the engagement, General Musa presented the Nigerian Armed Forces’ key operational requirements, identifying specific domains where Russia’s technical expertise and logistical capabilities could play a pivotal role in enhancing Nigeria’s military capacity.
Confirming the development in an official statement issued on Monday, the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, described the encounter as “highly beneficial,” underscoring the strategic significance of the dialogue for Nigeria’s defence modernization agenda.
“The CDS, General Christopher Musa, paid a courtesy visit to Mr Andrey Belousov, the Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation, on Saturday, 10 May 2025, at the Russian Ministry of Defence Building in Moscow,” the statement read.
“The visit enabled the CDS to reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to military cooperation with the Russian Federation. It also provided an opportunity for him to outline the operational needs of the AFN, which Russia could potentially support.”
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The visit coincided with Russia’s 80th Victory Day Commemoration, an occasion Brig. Gen. Gusau described as symbolic of Nigeria’s solidarity with the Russian Federation and a significant step toward deepening military ties.
During the high-level discussions, Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov reaffirmed Moscow’s willingness to bolster the capabilities of the Nigerian Armed Forces, pledging to do so within the framework of existing Military Technical Cooperation agreements between the two countries. He further noted that collaborative platforms, including the forthcoming Intergovernmental Working Group, would accelerate the realization of agreed areas of partnership, streamlining coordination and delivery of support.
General Musa’s visit follows closely on the heels of Russia’s renewed commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s counterterrorism operations. In recent engagements, Moscow offered to provide advanced weaponry, operational assistance, and strategic advisory support to enhance Nigeria’s capacity to tackle evolving security threats.
This latest diplomatic overture also builds on an earlier visit to Abuja by Lieutenant General Averianov, who, speaking on behalf of President Vladimir Putin and the Russian Defence Ministry, described Nigeria as a “critical partner” and a “leading regional power” in Africa. The Russian envoy underscored the Kremlin’s desire to deepen security and defence cooperation with Nigeria, positioning it as a cornerstone of Russia’s broader engagement with the continent.