Defence minister Bashir Magashi has called for a renewal of existing bilateral military agreements between Nigeria and France to reflect the security-related needs of the two countries.

Mr Magashi made the call when French ambassador to Nigeria Emmanuelle Blatmann paid him a courtesy visit on Tuesday in Abuja.

The minister called for the rejigging of the Nigeria-France strategic partnership and more proactive intelligence gathering mechanisms and technological support to drive a new information-sharing regime to aid military campaigns in the country.

Mr Magashi, however, asked for a technological transfer to galvanise the nation’s military capabilities.

Earlier, the French ambassador commended the minister for his desire to strengthen the existing bilateral agreements between the two countries.

The envoy requested a technical interface between the countries to examine critical areas of mutual benefits in the proposed rebirth of the Memorandum of Understanding.

She told the minister that France would reinforce efforts to end terrorism in Nigeria and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. 

(NAN)