ABUJA — The European Union (EU) has committed to providing €20 million in defence assistance to the Armed Forces of Nigeria to enhance military capacity and strengthen ongoing efforts to tackle insecurity across the country.
The development was revealed in a statement issued on Saturday by Leah Katung-Babatunde, Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Defence. The assistance package was finalized during a bilateral meeting between the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, and the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), at the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Abuja.
According to the official release, the defense package—expected to be deployed under the European Peace Facility—will support operational efficiency, intelligence gathering, and regional security initiatives. An EU technical delegation is scheduled to visit Nigeria in November to finalize implementation details and bilateral security arrangements.
Expressing gratitude for the gesture, Defence Minister General Christopher Musa commended the EU for its sustained partnership. He reiterated the federal government’s commitment to restoring stability, noting that peace is gradually returning to several troubled regions due to sustained military operations.
“Relative peace is gradually returning due to the laudable efforts of the armed forces and other security agencies. However, kidnapping along major highways and attacks on isolated communities remain serious concerns being actively addressed,” Musa stated.
The minister added that Nigeria is also anticipating the delivery of newly procured military assets, including 10 attack helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and other specialized hardware to boost air support and ground operations.
Nigeria and the European Union continue to maintain strategic counterterrorism partnerships, particularly in stabilizing the Lake Chad Basin through support for the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).
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