The European Union has committed £20 million in military assistance to Nigeria to strengthen ongoing operations against terrorism and other security threats, as the Federal Government prepares to receive additional attack helicopters, drones and other defence equipment.
The support package was announced by the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Gautier Mignot, during a meeting with the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, in Abuja.
The funding will be provided under the European Peace Facility, an EU mechanism for supporting peace and security initiatives. Discussions between both parties centred on the implementation of the assistance programme and the strengthening of existing defence cooperation between Nigeria and the European bloc.
According to a statement issued by the Defence Minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Leah Katung-Babatunde, an EU technical team is expected to visit Abuja in November to finalise arrangements for delivering the support.
Mignot praised the Nigerian government’s efforts to address insecurity and commended the recent conference involving serving and retired commanders of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), which also attracted representatives of the African Union and the Lake Chad Basin Commission.
He also invited Musa to attend a meeting of defence ministers scheduled to hold in Brussels later this year, signalling continued engagement between Nigeria and its European partners on regional security matters.
Responding, Musa expressed appreciation for the EU’s continued assistance, saying the administration of President Bola Tinubu remained committed to protecting lives, restoring stability and advancing national development.
The minister acknowledged that although security agencies had recorded progress in some areas, kidnapping on major highways and attacks on remote communities remained serious concerns requiring sustained action.
He disclosed that Nigeria was expecting ten attack helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles and other essential military assets, with presidential backing for efforts to improve the country’s operational capacity.
Musa also identified the shrinking Lake Chad Basin as a potential source of instability, noting that more than 50 million people depend on the region for their livelihoods. He stressed that preventing terrorist groups from maintaining strongholds on the lake’s islands remained a major priority for the MNJTF.
On the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration programme, the defence minister called for greater attention to victims of conflict, including military personnel affected by prolonged security operations.
The latest EU commitment adds to Nigeria’s efforts to secure international assistance and modernise its military capabilities. However, the impact of the support will ultimately depend on effective implementation, the timely delivery of equipment and the ability of security forces to translate additional resources into improved protection for communities affected by violence.
