The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has made a strategic visit to Russia, where he met with Russian Minister of Defence, Mr. Andrey Belousov, to discuss Nigeria’s security needs following offers from President Vladimir Putin to assist Nigeria’s fight against insecurity.
The visit, which took place on May 10, 2025, saw General Musa meet with Russian Defence Minister, Mr. Andrey Belousov, at the Russian Ministry of Defence headquarters.
During the meeting, General Musa outlined the Nigerian Armed Forces’ operational needs and emphasized areas where Russia could provide technical, logistical, and operational support.
Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, the Director of Defence Information, shared the details of the visit, describing the meeting as “highly rewarding,” noting that it offered a fresh opportunity to reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to its defence partnership with Russia.
“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 said.
“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,” it added.
The visit also coincided with Russia’s 80th Victory Day celebration, an event Gusau said symbolized Nigeria’s solidarity with the Russian people and marked a key step toward reinforcing bilateral defence ties.
During the talks, the Russian Defence Minister pledged Moscow’s readiness to support Nigeria’s Armed Forces under existing military-technical cooperation agreements.
He also indicated that upcoming platforms like the Intergovernmental Working Group would help fast-track collaboration and deliver tangible results in agreed areas.
General Musa’s visit follows recent engagements where Russian officials restated their interest in supporting Nigeria’s fight against terrorism.
Russia had earlier offered to supply weapons, provide operational support, and share strategic expertise to aid Nigeria’s ongoing security efforts.
Earlier this year, Lt. Gen. Averianov, speaking in Nigeria on behalf of President Vladimir Putin and the Russian Defence Ministry, described Nigeria as a “major regional power and critical partner,” emphasizing the country’s strategic importance to Russia’s defence outreach in Africa.
