The European Union plans to provide €20 million in defence support to the Nigerian Armed Forces under the European Peace Facility, with a technical delegation expected in Abuja in November to finalise delivery arrangements.
The EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, disclosed the planned assistance during a visit to the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd), at Ship House in Abuja.
The discussions covered bilateral defence agreements and security cooperation between Nigeria and the European Union.
Technical Delegation to Finalise Support Arrangements
Mignot said the visiting technical team would work on the modalities for delivering the assistance.
The account of the meeting did not specify the equipment, services or other items the €20 million package would cover, or when delivery would begin.
The ambassador commended Musa’s efforts to address Nigeria’s security challenges and invited him to a meeting of defence ministers in Brussels later this year.
Musa Highlights Highway Kidnappings and Community Attacks
Responding, Musa thanked the European Union for its continued support and reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to protecting lives and promoting national development.
The minister acknowledged that kidnapping along major highways and attacks on isolated communities remained security concerns.
Such threats have featured in The Bureau Journal’s reporting on the abduction of passengers travelling along a Kogi highway and military responses to attacks and kidnapping incidents.
Musa expressed confidence that ongoing operations by the Armed Forces and other security agencies would help restore lasting peace.
The proposed EU assistance would add to Nigeria’s defence cooperation efforts as security forces continue operations against armed groups. Recent interventions include the rescue of kidnapped victims during an operation in Itobe and the interception of an arms cache in Kogi.
Strengthening security capacity has also informed discussions at state level, including proposals for additional military deployments and operational facilities in Kebbi.
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