Nigeria has deepened its defence cooperation with the United Kingdom, positioning the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) to respond more effectively to evolving regional and domestic security threats.
Desk: Defence & Security
Date: Friday, 6 February 2026
Time: 15:20 WAT
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
The engagement aligns professional military education, intelligence-sharing, and specialised training with operational readiness, signaling tangible improvements in national security capacity.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, received the United Kingdom High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery, at Defence Headquarters, Abuja, in a strategic effort to advance bilateral defence initiatives. The meeting focused on enhancing training, intelligence coordination, and operational effectiveness across the Armed Forces, with particular emphasis on emerging security challenges and capacity-building in critical operational domains.
According to a statement issued by the Director, Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, the CDS highlighted the enduring partnership with the United Kingdom and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to continuous professional development, stressing that collaborative initiatives would strengthen operational readiness, inter-agency synergy, and regional security stability.
Dr Montgomery praised the AFN’s resilience and progress in managing dynamic security environments, underlining the shared responsibility of both nations in promoting regional stability, countering emerging threats, and building sustainable military capabilities. He described the bilateral engagement as mutually reinforcing, forward-looking, and essential for sustaining Nigeria’s operational capacity in response to complex security realities.
The high-level engagement included discussions on expanding access for Nigerian personnel to advanced professional military education programs, strengthening intelligence support frameworks, and enhancing interoperability with UK forces in joint operations. Both sides expressed optimism that ongoing collaboration would directly enhance Nigeria’s ability to secure vulnerable communities, protect critical infrastructure, and respond decisively to emerging threats.
FACT-CHECK & BACKGROUND CONTEXT
Nigeria and the United Kingdom have maintained a robust defence partnership, with focus areas including counter-terrorism, professional military education, intelligence-sharing, and strategic operational capacity development.
UK support has included joint exercises, advisory deployments, and specialised training programs aimed at improving AFN operational efficiency. Past engagements have demonstrated measurable outcomes in stabilising volatile regions and enhancing Nigeria’s contribution to regional security frameworks.
The High Commissioner regularly engages with Nigerian defence institutions to align bilateral priorities, strengthen interoperability, and ensure that cooperative programs address both immediate threats and long-term security capacity building.
🏷 Tags: Defence, Nigeria, United Kingdom, Military Cooperation, Security, Bilateral Relations
#Defence #NigeriaUK #AFN #MilitaryCooperation #RegionalSecurity
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