Nigeria, EU Align to Strengthen Defence Engagements and Security Cooperation
Nigeria and the European Union have taken steps to deepen defence relations and expand security cooperation as the country grapples with complex and evolving security threats.
The move followed a courtesy visit by the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.
Congratulating Oluyede on his appointment, Mignot said the EU was keen on strengthening defence engagements with Nigeria, noting that the country remains strategically important to Europe. He disclosed that 19 out of the EU’s 27 member states currently maintain diplomatic representation in Nigeria, underscoring the bloc’s strong political and security interest in the country.
The ambassador reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in addressing its security challenges, stressing that the support goes beyond military assistance. According to him, the EU is implementing several non-kinetic projects across the country aimed at peacebuilding, stabilisation and conflict prevention, while also supporting governance and political processes.
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“We want to stand with Nigeria in this complex moment,” Mignot said, adding that Europe’s engagement covers both security operations and broader efforts to tackle the root causes of insecurity.
In his response, the Chief of Defence Staff expressed appreciation for the EU’s sustained support, saying he was familiar with many of the bloc’s ongoing interventions in Nigeria. Oluyede welcomed the EU’s plan to engage more directly with Nigeria on defence and security matters, beyond its existing focus on supporting the Multinational Joint Task Force.
He called for the fast-tracking of proposed defence engagements, noting that Nigeria is currently facing multi-faceted security challenges ranging from insurgency and terrorism to banditry and other forms of criminality.
The CDS said enhanced cooperation with the EU would be timely and beneficial, as the Armed Forces of Nigeria continue to adapt to emerging threats and strengthen joint and inter-agency operations nationwide.
Both sides expressed optimism that closer defence collaboration would contribute to improved security outcomes and reinforce ongoing efforts to restore peace and stability across the country.
The visit highlights growing international interest in Nigeria’s security situation and signals a possible expansion of EU–Nigeria defence cooperation in the months ahead.
By PRNigeria
