The High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Nigeria, His Excellency Miah Md Mainul Kabir, has reaffirmed his country’s commitment to strengthening defence and maritime security cooperation with the Nigerian Navy.
Kabir made the commitment during a high-level engagement with the Chief of the Naval Staff, where discussions focused on maritime security, professional training, technology exchange, naval shipbuilding and defence-industrial development.
The Bangladeshi envoy underscored the longstanding cordial relations between Nigeria and Bangladesh, stressing the need to translate the bilateral relationship into practical areas of defence and maritime 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 Nigeria’s experience provides opportunities for professional exchanges and shared learning, while emphasising the need for stronger cooperation among regional navies to tackle 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 possible framework for addressing maritime security challenges, including militancy along the maritime border between Myanmar and Bangladesh.
The meeting further explored opportunities for training and professional exchanges, naval technology, shipbuilding and indigenous defence-industrial development.
The Nigerian Navy also expressed interest in Bangladesh’s garment manufacturing industry as a potential area for knowledge sharing, particularly in support of local production of military uniforms.
Discussions also examined prospects for technical cooperation in naval shipbuilding and other areas capable of strengthening indigenous defence production.
The engagement concluded with an invitation for the Chief of the Naval Staff to visit Bangladesh, providing an opportunity for both countries to advance the areas of mutual interest.
The meeting underscored the importance of sustained engagement between the Nigerian Navy and navies across the world in strengthening maritime security, building professional and technical capacity, promoting indigenous defence-industrial capabilities and advancing mutually beneficial bilateral relations.
