By Gabriel Ameh
Nigeria and The Gambia have reaffirmed their longstanding bilateral relations and commitment to deeper cooperation in key areas including diplomacy, security, justice reform and capacity building, following high-level talks held in Abuja.
This was contained in a statement signed Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, Spokesperson, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abuja on 15 December 2025
The reaffirmation came on Monday, 15 December 2025, when Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, OON, received his Gambian counterpart, Honourable Sering Modou Njie, and his delegation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During the meeting, the Gambian Foreign Minister conveyed warm fraternal greetings from President Adama Barrow and expressed appreciation for Nigeria’s sustained support to The Gambia, particularly during the country’s post-2017 political transition. He acknowledged Nigeria’s critical role in stabilising The Gambia at a pivotal moment in its democratic journey, noting that Nigeria’s leadership and solidarity were instrumental in sustaining peace, security and institutional continuity.
Honourable Njie commended the professionalism and contributions of Nigerian security personnel deployed in The Gambia, especially in strengthening national defence capabilities and maintaining internal stability. He described Nigeria as a dependable regional partner whose commitment to peacekeeping and democratic values continues to inspire confidence across West Africa.
On justice and governance reforms, the Gambian delegation highlighted ongoing efforts to address past human rights violations through institutional reforms and accountability mechanisms. Nigeria’s technical and moral support in advancing justice initiatives, capacity development and rule-of-law programmes was acknowledged as vital to consolidating democratic gains.
Defence cooperation featured prominently in the discussions, with the Gambian Minister, a former Defence Minister, underscoring Nigeria’s support in military training, professional development of officers and personnel, and provision of logistical assistance. He noted that Nigerian military institutions remain central to enhancing the operational readiness and professionalism of The Gambia’s armed forces.
In the diplomatic sphere, The Gambia sought Nigeria’s continued support in strengthening the capacity of its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including plans to expand diplomatic training infrastructure. Both sides explored opportunities for enhanced training placements, technical cooperation and institutional partnerships.
The meeting also reviewed preparations for the next session of the Nigeria–Gambia Joint Commission, scheduled to hold in the first quarter of 2026. Both ministers agreed that the Joint Commission remains a vital platform for translating political goodwill into tangible outcomes across trade, defence, education and people-to-people exchanges.
In his response, Ambassador Tuggar reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to The Gambia as a brotherly nation and valued ECOWAS partner, pledging continued support for democratic consolidation, security cooperation, institutional capacity building and regional integration.
Both ministers agreed that sustained dialogue, closer collaboration and mutual respect are essential to addressing shared regional challenges, strengthening ECOWAS, and promoting peace, stability and development across West Africa.
