The European Union is set to provide €20m in military assistance to Nigeria to strengthen the country’s fight against insecurity, Defence Minister Christopher Musa has announced.
The support will be delivered through the European Peace Facility, with an EU technical team expected in Abuja in November to work out the arrangements for its implementation.
Musa disclosed the development during a meeting with the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States, Gautier Mignot, at the Defence Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by the minister’s aide, Leah Katung-Babatunde, the discussions focused on bilateral defence agreements and ways to improve security cooperation between Nigeria and the EU.
The minister expressed appreciation for the bloc’s continued assistance, reaffirming the Federal Government’s determination to protect lives and property across the country.
He said the efforts of the Armed Forces and other security agencies were contributing to improvements in the security situation but acknowledged that kidnappings along major highways and attacks on remote communities remained major concerns.
Musa also revealed that Nigeria was expecting 10 attack helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles and other essential military equipment through initiatives under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
On regional security, he raised concerns about the shrinking Lake Chad Basin, which supports more than 50 million people, warning that the situation could contribute to instability.
He stressed the need to prevent terrorist groups from using islands in Lake Chad as operational bases, describing the effort as a priority for the Multinational Joint Task Force, which conducts security operations across the region.
The defence minister further called for greater consideration of people affected by conflict under the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration programme, including military personnel who have suffered from the consequences of insecurity.
Mignot commended the Nigerian government’s efforts to address security challenges and invited Musa to attend a meeting of defence ministers scheduled to take place in Brussels later this year.
The EU envoy also praised a recent gathering of former and serving commanders of the Multinational Joint Task Force, which brought together representatives of the African Union and the Lake Chad Basin Commission.
He said the planned technical delegation’s visit to Abuja would help establish the practical arrangements needed to deliver the €20m assistance.
