People Said Matawalle Went To Saudi To Dodge Being Around To Celebrate Gen. Musa As Minister -Alwan

According to a report by Channels TV, on Tuesday December 16, 2025, the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, has successfully brokered a landmark five-year defense cooperation agreement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The pact, signed in Riyadh on behalf of the Federal Government, aims to significantly upgrade Nigeria’s military hardware and intelligence capabilities.

The agreement comes at a critical time as Nigeria seeks to modernize its defense architecture to combat persistent insecurity.

APC Chieftain Alwan Hassan confirmed that the Minister was acting on a direct mandate from the Presidency to secure the deal.

“He signed the agreement. The president sent him to go and sign the agreement on the on behalf of the government, federal government of Nigeria.”

The Minister’s absence from a recent high-profile celebration for the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, had sparked speculation in some political circles.

Critics suggested that Matawalle might have stayed away due to a rift, but Hassan dismissed these claims as baseless, emphasizing the deep professional and personal bond between the two defense leaders.

“People were saying he has dodged being around to celebrate CJ Musa as minister and we know that CJ Musa is very close.”

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