Nigeria and the Gambia on Monday reaffirmed their bilateral relations and commitment to deepen cooperation in diplomacy, security, justice reforms and capacity building.
The meeting came when Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, welcomed his Gambian counterpart Seringe Modou Njie and members of his delegation at the ministry's headquarters in Abuja.
Ng expressed appreciation for Nigeria's continued support, especially during The Gambia's political transition following the change of government in 2017.
He acknowledged Nigeria's role in stabilizing The Gambia at a critical point in its democratic journey, and described Abuja's leadership and solidarity as vital in maintaining peace, security and institutional continuity in the country.
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The Gambian Foreign Minister also commended the professionalism and contribution of Nigerian security personnel deployed to support The Gambia, noting their impact on strengthening national defense capabilities and maintaining internal stability.
According to him, Nigeria remains a reliable regional partner whose commitment to peacekeeping and democratic norms inspires confidence across West Africa.
Justice and governance reforms featured prominently in the discussion, with the Gambian delegation outlining ongoing efforts to address past human rights violations through institutional reforms and accountability mechanisms.
Ng highlighted Nigeria's technical and moral support in advancing justice programmes, capacity development and rule-of-law initiatives, describing such assistance as critical to consolidating democratic gains in the Gambia.
Defense cooperation was another major focus of the engagement. Drawing from his previous experience as Defense Minister, Ng underlined Nigeria's contribution to military training, professional development of officers and personnel and provision of logistics support.
He said Nigerian military institutions remain central to enhancing the operational readiness and professionalism of the Gambia Armed Forces.
The Gambian side called for Nigeria's continued support in strengthening the capacity of its Foreign Ministry, including plans to expand diplomatic training infrastructure.
Both countries explored opportunities for advanced training placements, technical cooperation and institutional partnerships to boost diplomatic capacity.
The Ministers also reviewed preparations for the next session of the Nigeria-Gambia Joint Commission, expected to be hosted in the first quarter of 2026.
They agreed that the Joint Commission remains an important platform for translating political goodwill into tangible outcomes in areas such as trade, defence, education and people-to-people exchanges.
In his response, Tugger reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to The Gambia as a brotherly nation and valued partner within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
They reiterated Nigeria's readiness to continue supporting democratic consolidation, security cooperation, institutional capacity building and regional integration efforts.
