By Staff Reporter
The European Union (EU) is set to provide €20 million in defence assistance to the Nigerian Armed Forces to strengthen the country’s capacity to combat terrorism, kidnapping and other security threats.
The proposed assistance under the European Peace Facility was discussed during a meeting between the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Gautier Mignot, and the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), in Abuja.
Details of the meeting were disclosed on Saturday in a statement issued by Leah Katung-Babatunde, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Defence.
According to the statement, discussions centred on bilateral defence agreements and a review of security cooperation between Nigeria and the EU.
Mignot reportedly informed the minister that an EU technical delegation would visit Abuja in November to discuss and agree on the modalities for delivering the €20 million assistance.
The ambassador also commended Musa’s efforts to address Nigeria’s security challenges and invited him to attend a meeting of defence ministers scheduled to take place in Brussels later in the year.
Nigeria Seeks More Military Equipment
Speaking during the meeting, Musa expressed appreciation to the EU for its continued support and reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to protecting lives and property.
The minister said relative peace was gradually returning to some troubled parts of the country through the efforts of the Armed Forces and other security agencies.
He, however, acknowledged that kidnapping along major highways and attacks on isolated communities remained persistent security concerns.
Musa also disclosed that Nigeria was expecting the delivery of 10 attack helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other military equipment to improve the operational capabilities of the Armed Forces.
“In this regard, Nigeria is expecting the delivery of 10 attack helicopters, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and other major enablers,” he said.
The anticipated equipment is expected to support military operations, although the statement did not specify delivery dates or provide details of the platforms involved.
Lake Chad Basin Raises Security Concerns
Musa identified the shrinking of the Lake Chad Basin, which supports more than 50 million people, as a potential source of instability across the region.
He stressed that preventing terrorists from maintaining strongholds on islands in Lake Chad remained a major operational priority for the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).
The regional force coordinates military efforts by countries in the Lake Chad Basin to combat insurgent groups and improve security across their shared borders.
The minister’s remarks highlighted the connection between environmental pressures, regional instability and security challenges confronting communities around the basin.
Minister Calls for Victims to Be Prioritised
Musa also addressed Nigeria’s Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) programme, emphasising the need to prioritise victims of the conflict, including military personnel affected by the violence.
The programme is designed to support efforts to address the aftermath of conflict and facilitate the reintegration of eligible former combatants into society.
His remarks underscored the importance of considering the needs of affected communities and security personnel in implementing measures aimed at restoring stability.
Defence Cooperation Intensifies
The proposed EU assistance comes as Nigeria continues to strengthen international partnerships aimed at improving military capabilities and responding to terrorism and other security threats.
The government has also pursued initiatives to expand domestic defence production, including the development of unmanned systems, military hardware and digital defence technologies.
The €20 million package is expected to deepen defence cooperation between Nigeria and the EU, with further details on its implementation to be discussed during the planned visit of the EU technical delegation to Abuja in November.
The outcome of those discussions is expected to clarify how the assistance will be delivered and the specific capabilities it will support.
For Nigeria, the proposed support forms part of broader efforts to strengthen military readiness, improve regional security cooperation and address persistent threats from insurgency, kidnapping and attacks on vulnerable communities.
