Nigeria, UK Deepen Security Alliance to Combat Terror Financing, Cybercrime
Nigeria and the United Kingdom have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in tackling terrorism financing, cyber threats, disinformation, organised crime, and other emerging security challenges under the renewed UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership.
The commitment was reiterated on Tuesday during the opening of the Fourth UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership Dialogue held in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, described the partnership as a comprehensive strategic framework that now covers counterterrorism, cybersecurity, regional stability, crisis response, maritime security, and intelligence collaboration.
Ribadu noted that the dialogue comes at a critical period when the global security environment is becoming increasingly complex, with traditional threats converging with rapidly evolving technology-driven risks.
According to him, challenges such as terrorism, violent extremism, cybercrime, organised criminal networks, illicit financial flows, foreign information manipulation, and external interference require unprecedented levels of cooperation among trusted international partners.
“No nation can address these threats alone. Effective responses require coordinated action across defence, intelligence, law enforcement, diplomacy, cyber capabilities, and financial tools,” he said.
The NSA stressed that Nigeria remains committed to addressing security threats through a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, adding that significant gains have been recorded in degrading terrorist and criminal networks operating across the country.
He further stated that Nigeria would continue to play a leading role in promoting regional stability, democratic governance, and collective resilience against shared security threats across Africa.
Ribadu commended the United Kingdom for its continued support in enhancing Nigeria’s crisis response capabilities, disrupting terrorist financing networks, strengthening investigations, and supporting strategic communications initiatives.
He also acknowledged ongoing collaboration aimed at strengthening the National Counter Terrorism Centre and advancing sustainable counterterrorism measures.
Highlighting the growing importance of digital security, Ribadu said both countries were expanding cooperation in cybersecurity and information resilience to counter the increasing exploitation of cyberspace and digital platforms by criminal and hostile actors.
Read Also:
“The future security landscape will be shaped not only by conventional threats but also by technology, information, and data. Building resilience against these threats requires stronger partnerships, deeper intelligence sharing, and greater investment in innovation,” he added.
In his remarks, the United Kingdom’s National Security Adviser, Jonathan Powell, described Nigeria as the UK’s foremost partner in Africa and a vital pillar of regional stability and collective security.
Powell observed that contemporary security threats have become increasingly interconnected, necessitating closer collaboration and adaptive strategies among nations.
“We face an era of hybrid threats. Terrorism, cyber threats, disinformation, illicit finance, organised crime, and attacks on critical infrastructure are increasingly connected. These challenges require us to adapt our approaches and work more closely together than ever before,” he said.
He explained that the UK-Nigeria partnership is anchored on practical cooperation, including frontline operational support, institutional capacity building, crisis preparedness, and mitigation of future threats.
According to Powell, British military personnel are currently supporting Nigerian forces in Maiduguri, while counterterrorism experts continue to work alongside Nigerian law enforcement agencies and the National Counter Terrorism Centre.
He identified strengthening cyber capabilities, countering disinformation, and protecting democratic institutions as key priorities of the partnership.
“Disinformation has become one of the greatest challenges facing democracies today. It has the potential to undermine trust in institutions, deepen societal divisions, and weaken national cohesion. We must take this threat seriously and develop effective strategies to counter it,” he stated.
Powell also emphasised the importance of dismantling illicit financial networks that sustain terrorism, organised crime, and instability, noting that such efforts require robust cooperation among governments, law enforcement agencies, and international partners.
He reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in building resilient institutions and sustainable sovereign capacities capable of addressing both current and future security challenges.
The dialogue is expected to assess progress recorded under the bilateral security partnership and explore new areas of cooperation in response to evolving global and regional threats.
The meeting was attended by senior defence and security officials from both countries, including the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, service chiefs, and diplomatic representatives.
By PRNigeria
