EU pledges €20m military assistance to Nigeria to tackle insecurity

The European Union (EU) is set to provide €20 million in defence assistance to Nigeria’s Armed Forces to strengthen efforts against terrorism, kidnapping and other security threats.

According to SaharaReporters, the assistance was discussed during a meeting between Defence Minister Christopher Musa and EU Ambassador Gautier Mignot in Abuja.

A statement issued Saturday by the minister’s media aide, Leah Katung-Babatunde, said an EU technical delegation would visit Abuja in November to finalise delivery arrangements.

Musa thanked the EU for its support, noting that insecurity remained a concern despite improvements in affected communities.

“In this regard, Nigeria is expecting the delivery of 10 attack helicopters, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and other major enablers,” he said.

The minister also warned that the shrinking Lake Chad Basin threatened regional stability, stressing the need to prevent terrorists from establishing strongholds.

Mignot commended Nigeria’s security efforts and invited Musa to a defence ministers’ meeting in Brussels later this year.