The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, has paid a strategic courtesy visit to the Russian Minister of Defence, Mr Andrey Belousov, at the Ministry of Defence Headquarters in Moscow, as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral military cooperation.

During the visit on Saturday, May 10, 2025, General Musa outlined the operational needs of the Nigerian Armed Forces to the Russian government, highlighting areas where Russia could offer technical and logistical support.

The Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, describing the visit as “highly rewarding.”

“The CDS, General Christopher Musa, paid a courtesy visit to Mr Andrey Belousov, the Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation, on Saturday, 10 May 2025, at the Russian Ministry of Defence Building in Moscow,” the statement read.

“The visit enabled the CDS to reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to military cooperation with the Russian Federation. It also provided an opportunity for him to outline the operational needs of the AFN, which Russia could potentially support.”

The visit coincided with Russia’s 80th Victory Day Commemoration, an occasion Brig. Gen. Gusau described as symbolic of Nigeria’s solidarity with the Russian Federation and a significant step toward deepening military ties.

During their engagement, the Russian Defence Minister expressed Russia’s readiness to support the Nigerian Armed Forces in line with existing Military Technical Cooperation agreements.

He also assured that upcoming platforms, such as the Intergovernmental Working Group, would fast-track implementation of identified areas of collaboration.

General Musa’s visit comes weeks after the Russian Federation reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts, offering to provide weapons, operational support, and strategic expertise.

Earlier, during a visit to Nigeria, Lt. Gen. Averianov, speaking on behalf of President Vladimir Putin and the Russian Defence Ministry, described Nigeria as a “major regional power and critical partner,” underscoring Russia’s interest in forging deeper security and defence cooperation.