Nigeria, UK Deepen Defence Partnership as Defence Minister Hosts British Security Adviser
Oru Leonard
ABUJA — Nigeria and the United Kingdom have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral defence and security cooperation, with both countries agreeing to deepen collaboration in counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing, military training and regional security.
The Minister of Defence, Christopher Gwabin Musa, gave the assurance while receiving the United Kingdom’s National Security Adviser, Jonathan Powell, and his delegation at the Ship House in Abuja.
The British delegation is in Nigeria to participate in the fourth UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership (SDP4) Dialogue, a high-level platform aimed at advancing security cooperation between both nations.
Speaking during the meeting, General Musa reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to sustaining and expanding its strategic partnership with the UK in response to emerging security threats.
According to the minister, Nigeria places great value on its longstanding relationship with the United Kingdom and remains committed to working closely with its partners to address shared security concerns.
The discussions focused on key areas of cooperation, including counter-terrorism efforts, intelligence exchange, capacity building, and initiatives aimed at promoting stability within the region.
As part of efforts to strengthen existing frameworks, both sides agreed to undertake a comprehensive review of current Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between Nigeria and the UK. The review will focus on updating security protocols, expanding technical training programmes, and enhancing the operational capabilities of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
The bilateral meeting took place on the sidelines of the two-day SDP4 Dialogue hosted by the Office of the National Security Adviser in Abuja.
The dialogue was co-chaired by Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and his British counterpart, Jonathan Powell.
Officials said the summit outlined a comprehensive agenda for defence and security cooperation between both countries through 2026 and beyond, reflecting a shared commitment to addressing evolving security challenges and strengthening strategic ties.
