The European Union (EU) is ready to provide €20 million in defence help to the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) beneath the European Peace Facility (EPF).
This was disclosed in an announcement issued on Saturday in Abuja by Leah Katung-Babatunde, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Defence.
The assertion was made following discussions between Defence Minister Christopher Musa and the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Gautier Mignot.
Musa acquired Mignot and his delegation on the Ship House in Abuja, the place they mentioned crucial defence agreements, together with a overview of safety cooperation between Nigeria and the EU.
EU delegation to go to Nigeria in November
Katung-Babatunde mentioned Mignot disclosed that an EU technical delegation would go to Nigeria in November to agree on the small print for delivering the €20 million help.
She added that the EU ambassador recommended Musa for his efforts in altering the nation’s safety dynamics and invited him to attend a gathering of defence ministers in Brussels later in the yr.
Defence Minister, Musa expressed gratitude to the EU for its constant support for Nigeria and warranted Mignot of President Bola Tinubu’s dedication to guaranteeing the protection of Nigerians and the event of the nation.
Nigeria highlights persistent safety challenges
Musa mentioned relative peace was steadily returning to troubled components of Nigeria due to the efforts of the armed forces and different safety businesses.
However, he famous that kidnapping alongside main highways and assaults on remoted communities persevered and have been being tackled.
- “In this regard, Nigeria is expecting the delivery of 10 attack helicopters, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and other major enablers,” Musa mentioned.
The minister additionally recognized the shrinking of the Lake Chad Basin, on which greater than 50 million folks rely, as a possible supply of instability.
He burdened that denying terrorists holding areas on the Lake Chad islands remained a key operational precedence for the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).
Musa additionally addressed Nigeria’s Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) programme, emphasising that it will prioritise victims, together with affected army personnel.
Nigeria deepens worldwide defence partnerships
Recent developments present Nigeria pursuing completely different approaches to strengthening its defence capabilities, from receiving army tools from international companions to increasing native defence manufacturing.
Beyond tools provided by international companions, Nigeria has additionally pursued native defence manufacturing.
On April 4, 2026, Nairametrics reported that the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) signed a memorandum of understanding with EIB Group to support the home manufacturing of unmanned programs, army {hardware} and digital defence applied sciences.
