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The European Union has pledged €20 million ($23 million) in defense assistance to Nigeria's armed forces to strengthen security cooperation and support efforts to combat persistent insecurity across the country, according to a statement from Nigeria's Defense Ministry.
The proposed assistance was discussed during a meeting in Abuja between Nigerian Defense Minister Christopher Musa and Gautier Mignot, the EU ambassador to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The announcement was made in a statement by Leah Katung-Babatunde, the defense minister's media aide.
The assistance will be provided through the EU's European Peace Facility, with a technical delegation expected to visit Nigeria in November to finalize arrangements for delivering the support.
Mignot commended the Nigerian government's efforts to address security challenges and invited Musa to attend a meeting of defense ministers in Brussels later this year.
Musa thanked the EU for its continued assistance and reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu's commitment to protecting lives and promoting national development.
Musa said military operations were gradually restoring relative peace in some areas affected by insecurity, although kidnappings along major highways and attacks on isolated communities remained serious challenges.
He disclosed that Nigeria was expecting 10 attack helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles and other military equipment to strengthen ongoing security operations.
The additional equipment is intended to enhance the armed forces' ability to respond to security threats across the country.
Nigeria has faced a prolonged insurgency in its northeastern region, alongside armed banditry, kidnappings and attacks on civilian communities in other parts of the country.
Turning to regional security, Musa warned that the shrinking Lake Chad Basin, which supports more than 50 million people, could become a source of further instability.
He stressed the importance of preventing terrorist groups from using islands in Lake Chad as operational bases.
The issue remains a key priority for the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), which coordinates regional military operations against insurgent groups operating around the Lake Chad Basin.
Musa also emphasized the need to strengthen Nigeria's disarmament, demobilization and reintegration program.
He said the initiative should prioritize victims of conflict, including military personnel affected by the insurgency.
The EU's proposed assistance comes as Nigeria seeks to strengthen its military capabilities and deepen international cooperation in addressing longstanding security challenges.
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