Nigeria and Burkina Faso have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening security cooperation to combat terrorism, violent extremism and transnational organized crime.
The commitment followed a meeting in Ouagadougou between Burkina Faso’s Prime Minister, Rimtalba Ouédraogo, and Nigeria’s Ambassador to the country, Syndoph Endoni.
A statement issued by the Embassy of Nigeria in Ouagadougou and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said both sides agreed that shared security challenges required closer coordination, intelligence sharing and stronger institutional cooperation.
According to the statement, the enhanced collaboration would help both countries tackle terrorist and criminal networks while contributing to peace and stability across West Africa.
Ouédraogo acknowledged the longstanding people-to-people ties between Nigeria and Burkina Faso, describing the relationship as one that required continuous nurturing.
He said both countries faced common challenges that demanded greater cooperation, mutual understanding and sustained high-level engagement.
The Prime Minister expressed Burkina Faso’s readiness to work closely with Nigeria to strengthen their historic relationship and advance shared interests.
The discussions placed particular emphasis on security and defense cooperation, with both sides identifying terrorism, violent extremism and transnational organized crime as major threats requiring coordinated responses.
They identified intelligence sharing, institutional collaboration and closer operational coordination as essential to confronting the threats more effectively.
The two sides also agreed that stronger economic cooperation could reinforce security efforts by improving livelihoods and creating sustainable opportunities for citizens.
Endoni reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to support initiatives to strengthen bilateral relations and create mutually beneficial opportunities.
The ambassador stressed that security and development should not be treated as separate objectives, arguing that stronger economic and agricultural partnerships could improve food security, support livelihoods and complement counter-terrorism efforts.
He also called for increased engagement between government institutions and private-sector actors in both countries.
Endoni said the meeting provided an opportunity to establish a broader framework for renewed cooperation between Nigeria and Burkina Faso across several sectors.
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Both sides expressed interest in holding more regular consultations on security, defense, agriculture, economic relations and people-to-people exchanges.
They said stronger institutional engagement would help address shared security challenges while expanding economic and social cooperation.
The meeting reaffirmed the longstanding bonds of friendship between Nigeria and Burkina Faso and their shared interest in building a more secure, stable and prosperous West Africa.
