By Palma Ileye
Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening strategic cooperation in security, technology, and emergency response.
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo during a meeting with the Saudi Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Yousef bin Mohammed Al Barnawi, and his delegation, highlighted Nigeria’s dedication to strengthening bilateral relations.
Tunji-Ojo noted that the presence of multiple Consuls General signalled the high importance both countries attach to their long-standing partnership, which spans nearly five decades.
Key areas of mutual interest identified during the engagement include border security, irregular migration management, and crisis response systems.
The Minister expressed Nigeria’s desire to learn from Saudi Arabia’s advanced technological systems at its borders through structured knowledge exchange and delegation visits.
He also emphasized the development of a National Internal Emergency Response System as a top priority, highlighting the potential to leverage Saudi expertise in innovation, public safety, and coordinated emergency management to enhance Nigeria’s internal security architecture.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Al Barnawi reiterated Saudi Arabia’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Nigeria across critical sectors, including traffic management, Civil Defence, Correctional Services, and large-scale crowd management, particularly during Hajj and Ramadan operations.
He also highlighted advancements in digital security and citizen engagement platforms that facilitate real-time public safety monitoring and response.
