Nigeria, Gambia deepen ties on security, justice

Nigeria and The Gambia on Monday reaffirmed their bilateral relations and commitment to deeper cooperation across diplomacy, security, justice reform and capacity building.

The meeting took place when Yusuf Tuggar, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, received Sering Modou Njie, his Gambian counterpart, and members of his delegation at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.

Njie conveyed expressed appreciation for Nigeria’s consistent support, particularly during The Gambia’s political transition following the 2017 change of government.

He acknowledged Nigeria’s role in stabilising The Gambia at a critical point in its democratic journey, describing Abuja’s leadership and solidarity as instrumental in sustaining peace, security and institutional continuity in the country.

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The Gambian foreign minister also commended the professionalism and contribution of Nigerian security personnel deployed to support The Gambia, noting their impact on strengthening national defence capabilities and maintaining internal stability.

According to him, Nigeria remains a dependable regional partner whose commitment to peacekeeping and democratic norms continues to inspire confidence across West Africa.

Justice and governance reforms featured prominently in the discussions, with the Gambian delegation outlining ongoing efforts to address past human rights violations through institutional reforms and accountability mechanisms.

Njie highlighted Nigeria’s technical and moral support in advancing justice programmes, capacity development and rule-of-law initiatives, describing such assistance as vital to consolidating democratic gains in The Gambia.

Defence cooperation was another major focus of the engagement. Drawing from his previous experience as defence minister, Njie underscored Nigeria’s contributions to military training, professional development of officers and personnel, and provision of logistical support.

He said Nigerian military institutions remain central to enhancing the operational readiness and professionalism of The Gambia’s armed forces.

The Gambian side sought Nigeria’s continued support in strengthening the capacity of its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including plans to expand diplomatic training infrastructure.

Both countries explored opportunities for enhanced training placements, technical cooperation and institutional partnerships to boost diplomatic capacity.

The ministers also reviewed preparations for the next session of the Nigeria-Gambia Joint Commission, which is expected to be hosted in the first quarter of 2026.

They agreed that the Joint Commission remains a critical platform for translating political goodwill into tangible outcomes in areas such as trade, defence, education and people-to-people exchanges.

In his response, Tuggar reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to The Gambia as a brotherly nation and valued partner within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

He reiterated Nigeria’s readiness to continue supporting democratic consolidation, security cooperation, institutional capacity building and regional integration efforts.

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