The European Union (EU) has pledged €20 million in bilateral defence support to the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) to boost internal security and counter-insurgency operations.
The financial intervention, drawn from the European Peace Facility (EPF), was formalised during a strategic meeting at the Ship House in Abuja.
The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, received the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, to review existing security cooperation. While Musa acknowledged that joint operations have gradually restored peace to troubled regions, he admitted that kidnappings along major highways and attacks on isolated communities remain a significant challenge for the military.
The Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Defence, Leah Katung-Babatunde, confirmed the development in an official release on Saturday, acknowledging that Mignot commended the ongoing efforts of the military.
“The discussions centred on arrangements for the EU’s €20 million bilateral assistance to the AFN under the European Peace Facility. The ambassador noted that an EU technical delegation would visit Nigeria in November to agree on the details.”
Musa announced that the military is anticipating the delivery of 10 attack helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and other heavy-duty equipment. He stated that these incoming assets will provide the superior firepower needed to neutralise criminal elements.
The Defence Minister also identified the shrinking of the Lake Chad Basin as a major cause for regional instability. He stressed that denying terrorists access to holding areas on the Lake Chad islands remains a primary operational objective for the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).
Musa stated that the military’s Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration (DDR) programme will be structured to prioritise both civilian victims and military personnel affected by the prolonged conflict.
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