Nigeria and The Gambia Strengthen Strategic Partnership as Foreign Ministers Meet in Abuja By Raymond Enoch
In a significant reaffirmation of West African solidarity, Nigeria and The Gambia on Monday, 15 December 2025, underscored their enduring bilateral relations and commitment to deepening cooperation across diplomacy, security, justice reform, and capacity building. The discussions took place during an official meeting between Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, OON, and his Gambian counterpart, Honourable Sering Modou Njie, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja.
During the audience, the Gambian Foreign Minister conveyed warm fraternal greetings from President Adama Barrow and expressed profound appreciation for Nigeria’s unwavering support for The Gambia, particularly during its post-2017 political transition. He praised Nigeria’s pivotal role in stabilising the country at a critical juncture in its democratic evolution, noting that the leadership and solidarity of Nigeria were instrumental in sustaining peace, security, and institutional continuity.
The Gambian delegation also commended the professionalism and contribution of Nigerian security personnel deployed to support The Gambia, highlighting their role in strengthening national defence capabilities and maintaining internal stability. The minister described Nigeria as a dependable regional partner whose commitment to peacekeeping and democratic norms continues to bolster confidence within West Africa.
On governance and justice reforms, the Gambian officials highlighted ongoing efforts to address past human rights violations through institutional reforms and accountability mechanisms. Nigeria’s technical and moral support in advancing justice programmes, capacity development, and rule-of-law initiatives was recognised as vital for consolidating the country’s democratic gains.
Defence cooperation was another key focus of the talks. The Gambian Foreign Minister, reflecting on his experience as a former Defence Minister, praised Nigeria’s assistance in military training, professional development of officers, and logistical support. He emphasised that Nigerian military institutions remain central to enhancing the operational readiness and professionalism of The Gambia’s armed forces.
In the diplomatic sphere, both countries explored ways to strengthen The Gambia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including plans to develop diplomatic training infrastructure and institutional partnerships. Enhanced training placements, technical cooperation, and capacity-building initiatives were discussed as part of the ongoing collaboration.
Preparations for the next session of the Nigeria-Gambia Joint Commission, scheduled for the first quarter of 2026, were also reviewed. Both ministers agreed that the Joint Commission remains a critical platform for transforming political goodwill into tangible outcomes across trade, defence, education, and people-to-people exchanges.
In his response, Nigeria’s Foreign Minister reaffirmed the country’s unwavering commitment to The Gambia as a brotherly nation and a valued ECOWAS partner. He reiterated Nigeria’s readiness to continue supporting democratic consolidation, security cooperation, institutional capacity building, and regional integration efforts.
Both ministers concluded that sustained dialogue, closer collaboration, and mutual respect are essential to addressing shared regional challenges, strengthening ECOWAS, and advancing peace, stability, and development across West Africa.
