By Ameh Gabriel
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, on April 28, 2025, received Lieutenant General Andrei Averianov, Representative of the President of the Russian Federation, who paid a courtesy visit to Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
This was contained in a statement Signed by Brigadier General Tukur Gusau Director, Defence Information
on 28 April 2025
According to a statement signed by the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Lieutenant General Averianov expressed gratitude for the warm reception and described the visit as a significant milestone in the history of Russia’s bilateral relations with Nigeria.
In his remarks, Averianov noted that while it had been 80 years since Russia fought Nazism, the global security landscape had shifted dramatically, with asymmetric threats such as Al-Qaeda and Boko Haram now at the forefront. He conveyed Russia’s satisfaction at being part of efforts to create a safer environment for future generations in Nigeria.
Highlighting Russia’s experience in special operations involving 39 adversary nations, Lt Gen Averianov revealed that Russia had developed new counterterrorism strategies and was ready to share these methods with Nigeria. On behalf of President Vladimir Putin and the Russian Minister of Defence, he pledged continued support for Nigeria’s counterinsurgency efforts, recognizing Nigeria as a major regional power and an important strategic partner.
Averianov also commended Nigeria’s longstanding commitment to fighting terrorism and offered Russia’s assistance in providing a full range of weaponry and military resources needed by the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) to intensify its operations.
Responding, General Musa welcomed the delegation on behalf of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Nigerian Military. He acknowledged the similar security challenges faced by both nations, which necessitated ongoing special operations and resulted in the loss of valuable personnel.
The CDS expressed appreciation for Russia’s support and emphasized the importance of deepening bilateral military cooperation, particularly in the areas of training, intelligence sharing, and operational support. He advocated for the exchange of military instructors and trainees between Nigeria and Russia to strengthen the professional capacity of both forces.
General Musa further outlined Nigeria’s operational needs, calling for expanded training in special operations, the acquisition of special boats, fast attack crafts, amphibious training capabilities, and the maintenance of existing Russian military platforms in Nigeria.
Additionally, he requested technical assistance in the form of spare parts and expert support for the repair of unserviceable Russian-made equipment currently in the Nigerian inventory. The CDS appealed for enhanced intelligence sharing, leveraging Russia’s vast operational experience, especially within the Sahel region.
General Musa concluded by thanking the Russian delegation for personally delivering military equipment and deploying a team of experts to aid in the testing and operationalization of the equipment, affirming that the Russian Federation had honored its commitments to Nigeria.
