The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening defence and security cooperation with Nigeria, with emphasis on professional military education, technology transfer, institutional capacity building and improved operational effectiveness.
Desk: Defence & Security
Date: 20 October 2026
Time: 20:56 WAT
Location: Abuja, FCT
The commitment was reiterated during a courtesy visit by the newly appointed British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Pete Vowles, to the Chief of Defence Staff, General OO Oluyede, at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, 20 October, by the Director Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, the Defence Headquarters said the British High Commissioner expressed appreciation for the longstanding political, diplomatic and military relations between both countries, describing defence and security cooperation as a critical pillar of the UK-Nigeria bilateral partnership.
Vowles reaffirmed his determination to sustain existing security initiatives and explore additional opportunities for collaboration in response to evolving regional and global security challenges. He also emphasised the importance of a strong, mutually beneficial partnership that supports regional stability and strengthens Nigeria’s capacity to address contemporary security threats.
In his response, General Oluyede highlighted the longstanding historical ties between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, noting that both countries had maintained a productive defence relationship over several decades while working together on shared security concerns.
The CDS underscored the need to sustain and expand existing areas of cooperation, particularly professional military education, technology transfer and institutional capacity building. He noted that ongoing defence agreements and training programmes had contributed to improving the professional competence and operational capabilities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
Oluyede further stressed that continued engagement with strategic international partners remained important to enhancing the Armed Forces’ ability to respond to emerging threats. He said such cooperation also supported Nigeria’s pursuit of greater self-reliance, institutional resilience and operational efficiency.
Both parties expressed optimism about the future of the UK-Nigeria defence and security partnership, reaffirming their commitment to building on existing achievements and identifying further areas of cooperation for mutual benefit.
🏷️ Tags: Nigeria-UK Defence Relations, Pete Vowles, General OO Oluyede, Defence Headquarters, Military Cooperation, Defence Capacity Building
#ZigPressRelease #ZigDiariesDefence #NigeriaUKRelations #DefenceCooperation #MilitaryPartnership
~2.png)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
0 Comments