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Building Capability, Buying Weapons: Remarks by Russian & Nigerian FMs After Talks in Moscow

© Sputnik . Sergey GuneevSergey Lavrov and his Nigerian counterpart Yusuf Tuggar hold a press conference following their negotiations in Moscow.
Sergey Lavrov and his Nigerian counterpart Yusuf Tuggar hold a press conference following their negotiations in Moscow. - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 06.03.2024
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Nigeria's top diplomat is on a working visit to the Russian capital Moscow from March 5 to 7 for talks with his counterpart Sergey Lavrov to discuss detailed issues of the international and regional agenda.
Russia will continue to help African countries improve their combat capabilities to counter ongoing threats, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a press conference after meeting with the Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar.
"Russia makes and in any case will continue to make a constructive contribution to the efforts of Africans and in general the world community to stabilize the situation in the Sahara-Sahel region, will help the countries of the region to improve their combat capabilities, the combat effectiveness of their national armed forces, security forces, law enforcement agencies in order to repel the threats that persist," he noted.
The top diplomat said that during the talks, the two sides emphasized the importance of countering terrorist and jihadist groups operating in the region, illegal arms trafficking, human trafficking and drug trafficking that take place in many parts of Africa.
Lavrov stressed that Russia's relations with African countries, including Nigeria, "are already based on solid foundations and plans that have been approved and are being implemented" during the Second Russia-Africa Summit in 2023, including the need to ensure cybersecurity in the modern information space, the need to fight terrorism, and the inadmissibility of spreading the arms race to outer space.
The top diplomat added that Moscow will soon send invitations to a meeting of foreign ministers in the Russia-Africa format, which is planned for the fall in the southern Russian city of Sochi.
Lavrov also described Nigeria as Russia's "priority partner on the African continent."
"We are glad that you visit our country regularly. It has already become a good tradition. Last July, you visited St. Petersburg as a member of the Nigerian delegation to participate in the Second Russia-Africa Summit, and today we are already receiving you as the Foreign Minister of Nigeria," Lavrov told Tuggar. "This reflects the good traditions of friendship between our peoples and, of course, very good prospects for the development of relations at the current stage."
He added that Russia and the countries of the Global South and the Global East share the same approaches in terms of "of eliminating injustice from international relations and establishing equality and balance of interests in full compliance with the principles of the UN Charter."
Lavrov also revealed that Moscow and Abuja intend to strengthen cooperation in the energy sector and agriculture.
Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow. - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 06.03.2024
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Nigerian Foreign Minister Tuggar, for his part, said at a press conference that Nigeria will continue purchasing weapons from Russia.
"In terms that I see cooperation between Nigeria and Russia regards to purchase of military equipment … it is something that has existed for so long, so this is something that we will continue," the minister said.
The minister emphasized that Nigeria will develop military cooperation with Russia "against all odds."
Lavrov, in turn, said that Russia is interested in making sure that a working agreement on military-technical cooperation between the countries is working.
"There is a reciprocal interest on the part of our Nigerian friends," Lavrov added.
Tuggar also replied to Sputnik Africa's question about the smuggling of Western weapons from Ukraine to Africa, saying that Nigeria is very concerned about the surge of the weapons in the Sahel region.
"Invariably, when there's a surge in the supply of weapons, they tend to find their way to our region. This is why we've always been concerned about the proliferation of small arms and light weapons," the minister said.
Nigeria, as the chair of the Economic Community of West African States, looks forward to strengthening cooperation between Russia and the bloc, particularly in the issue of combating terrorism, Tuggar added.
In addition, Tuggar disclosed that Nigerian President Bola Tinubu "is very much looking forward" to also visiting Russia soon.
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