General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, recently undertook an official visit to Moscow, where he met with Mr. Andrey Belousov, the Russian Minister of Defence. The primary aim of the visit was to reinforce military collaboration between Nigeria and Russia.
During the visit, which took place on Saturday, May 10, 2025, General Musa presented the operational requirements of the Nigerian Armed Forces to the Russian government. He also pinpointed specific areas where Russia could potentially offer both technical and logistical assistance.
Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, the Director of Defence Information, provided details in a statement released on Monday. He characterized the visit as “highly rewarding.”
The statement read, “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 continued, “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.”
The visit coincided with Russia’s 80th Victory Day Commemoration. Brigadier General Gusau highlighted the significance of the occasion, noting that it symbolized Nigeria’s solidarity with the Russian Federation and represented a crucial step toward strengthening military ties.
During their discussion, the Russian Defence Minister conveyed Russia’s readiness to support the Nigerian Armed Forces. This support would be provided in accordance with existing Military Technical Cooperation agreements.
Furthermore, he assured that forthcoming initiatives, such as the Intergovernmental Working Group, would expedite the execution of identified collaborative projects.
General Musa’s visit occurred a few weeks after the Russian Federation reiterated its dedication to bolstering Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts. This included offers of weapons, operational support, and strategic expertise.
Earlier, during a visit to Nigeria, Lt. Gen. Averianov, representing President Vladimir Putin and the Russian Defence Ministry, referred to Nigeria as a “major regional power and critical partner.” This emphasized Russia’s interest in fostering closer security and defence cooperation with Nigeria.
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