Korede Abdullah 
Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd) and and EU Ambassador to Nigeria Gautier Mignot
ABUJA, Nigeria – The European Union has pledged €20 million in defence assistance to Nigeria to strengthen the military’s capacity to tackle terrorism and other security threats.
The proposed support under the European Peace Facility was discussed on Saturday during a meeting between the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), and the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States, Gautier Mignot, at Ship House in Abuja.
According to a statement by Leah Katung-Babatunde, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Defence, the meeting focused on bilateral defence agreements and security cooperation. Mignot commended Musa’s efforts to improve Nigeria’s security situation and invited him to attend a meeting of defence ministers scheduled to take place in Brussels later this year.
The EU ambassador also disclosed that a technical delegation would visit Nigeria in November to agree on the details of the €20 million assistance package. The planned visit is expected to help determine the specific scope and implementation arrangements for the support. The statement did not specify the equipment or other forms of assistance to be provided under the package.
Musa thanked the EU for its continued support and reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to protecting lives and promoting national development. He identified highway kidnappings and attacks on isolated communities as persistent security challenges facing the country.
The minister also disclosed that Nigeria expected the delivery of 10 attack helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles and other military equipment. However, the statement did not clarify whether the expected equipment was connected to the EU assistance package or formed part of separate procurement arrangements.
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