UK reaffirms commitment to deepening defence and security partnership with Nigeria

The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening its longstanding defence and security partnership with Nigeria, with renewed focus on military cooperation, professional military education, institutional capacity building and improved operational effectiveness.

In a statement issued to defence correspondents in Abuja, the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, said the commitment was reiterated during a courtesy visit by the newly appointed British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Pete Vowles, to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General OO Oluyede, at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.

The British High Commissioner expressed appreciation for the enduring political, diplomatic and military relations between the two countries, emphasising that defence and security cooperation remained critical pillars of the UK-Nigeria bilateral relationship.Follow Politics

He underscored his determination to sustain the momentum of existing security initiatives and explore opportunities to deepen collaboration in response to evolving regional and global security challenges.

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He further highlighted the importance of maintaining a strong and mutually beneficial partnership that supports regional stability and strengthens Nigeria’s capacity to address contemporary security threats.

In his response, the CDS highlighted the longstanding historical ties between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, noting that both countries had maintained a productive defence relationship for several decades and continued to work together to address shared security concerns.

General Oluyede emphasised the importance of sustaining and expanding existing areas of cooperation, particularly in professional military education, technology transfer and institutional capacity building.

He noted that ongoing defence agreements and training programmes had contributed to improving the professional competence and operational capabilities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

The CDS stressed that continued collaboration with strategic international partners remained essential to strengthening the Armed Forces’ capacity to respond effectively to emerging threats while promoting greater self-reliance, institutional resilience and operational efficiency.

Both parties expressed optimism about the future of the UK-Nigeria defence and security partnership, reaffirming their commitment to building on existing achievements and identifying additional areas of cooperation for mutual benefit.