The Federal Government of Nigeria and the European Union have moved to finalize delivery modalities for a €20 million bilateral defence support package under the European Peace Facility to boost counterterrorism operations in the Lake Chad Basin and Gulf of Guinea.
Desk: Defence & Security
Date: 13 November 2026
Time: 20:04 WAT
Location: 📍 Abuja, Nigeria
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), OFR, met with a European External Action Service (EEAS) delegation led by Ms. Claire Gaudin at the Ministry of Defence Headquarters, Ship House, in Abuja, to map out deployment timelines for the historic security grant sealed in October 2026.
The Special Assistant to the Minister on Media, Leah Katung-Babatunde, confirmed that the €20 million facility represents the European Union's first-ever bilateral defence package for Nigeria.
Addressing the delegation, General Musa reaffirmed Nigeria's drive to build indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities toward national self-sufficiency, urging the European Union to leverage the momentum of the recently concluded Africa Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) to establish local defence production lines within the country.
The Defence Minister emphasized Nigeria's determination to track and dismantle global terrorist financing networks wherever they operate, noting that while the current European Peace Facility tranche covers non-lethal equipment, technical training, and maintenance, future phases should expand into military medical support and advanced surveillance systems.
Earlier, the Head of the European Peace Facility at the EEAS, Ms. Claire Gaudin, disclosed that the €20 million package will directly fund Counter-Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) equipment, Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS), night vision capabilities, and individual protective gear for deployed Nigerian troops.
Ms. Gaudin explained that these priority acquisitions were jointly agreed upon with the leadership of the Armed Forces of Nigeria following extensive bilateral consultations, adding that Nigeria now joins over 20 African nations among the 30 global beneficiaries of the facility.
Both parties noted that the equipment deployment will complement broader regional stabilization operations under the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) while opening deeper security collaboration across the Gulf of Guinea, utilizing the European Peace Facility established by the 27 EU member states in March 2021 for the 2021 to 2027 financial cycle to strengthen partner armed forces worldwide.
🏷 Tags: Ministry of Defence, Christopher Gwabin Musa, European Union, European Peace Facility, Claire Gaudin, Leah Katung-Babatunde, Lake Chad Basin, Abuja
#ZigPressRelease #ZigDiariesDefence #MinistryOfDefence #ChristopherMusa #EuropeanUnion #EuropeanPeaceFacility #CounterTerrorism #Abuja
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