By Miriam Humbe
The High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Nigeria, His Excellency Mr Miah Md Mainul Kabir, on Wednesday reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to deepening defence and maritime security cooperation with the Nigerian Navy.
The cooperation will be in the areas of maritime security, professional training, technology exchange, naval shipbuilding and defence-industrial development.
Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the
Director Naval Information disclosed this in a statement signed on Wednesday.
The Bangladeshi envoy was speaking during a high-level engagement with the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas where he underscored the longstanding cordial relations between the two countries and the importance of translating that relationship into practical areas of cooperation.
Responding, the Chief of the Naval Staff appreciated the High Commissioner and his delegation for the visit and highlighted Nigeria’s operational experience in combating piracy and other maritime crimes in the Gulf of Guinea.
He noted that such experience provides opportunities for professional exchanges and shared learning, while emphasising the importance of stronger cooperation among regional navies in addressing maritime threats that transcend national boundaries.
The CNS also referenced Nigeria’s participation in multinational maritime security initiatives, including engagement with the Combined Maritime Task Force, as a framework that could be leveraged to counter militancy on the maritime border between Myanmar and Bangladesh.
The engagement further explored opportunities for training and professional exchanges, naval technology, shipbuilding and indigenous industrial development.
The Nigerian Navy expressed interest in Bangladesh’s garment manufacturing industry, noting it as a potential area for knowledge sharing to support local production of military uniforms.
Discussions also examined prospects for technical cooperation in naval shipbuilding.
The engagement concluded with an invitation for the Chief of the Naval Staff to undertake a visit to Bangladesh, which would provide an opportunity to further advance the areas of mutual interest.
The meeting underscores the importance of sustained engagement between the Nigeria Navy and other world navies to strengthen maritime security, develop professional and technical capacity, promote indigenous defence-industrial capabilities, and advance mutually beneficial bilateral relations.
