By Nkechi Eze
Nigeria and the United Kingdom have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening defence cooperation as part of sustained efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to confront evolving and complex security challenges.
This resolve was underscored on Thursday, 6 February 2026, when the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, received the United Kingdom High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery, on a courtesy visit at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja.
The high-level engagement focused on expanding operational and strategic collaboration between the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) and the United Kingdom in response to dynamic regional and global security threats.
In an official statement signed by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, the CDS expressed deep appreciation to the United Kingdom for its longstanding and consistent partnership with the Armed Forces of Nigeria, particularly in the areas of Professional Military Education (PME), specialised training and operational capacity development.
General Oluyede noted that such cooperation has continued to play a vital role in Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen its defence architecture and enhance national and regional security.
He reaffirmed the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s commitment to continuous professional development, stressing that building a highly skilled, adaptive and professional force remains central to addressing contemporary security realities.
The CDS further emphasised the need to expand mutually beneficial bilateral defence relations, expressing optimism that enhanced collaboration with the United Kingdom, especially in emerging security domains and intelligence support, would significantly boost operational effectiveness across theatres of operation.
According to him, Nigeria values partnerships that are practical, result-oriented and responsive to the changing nature of security threats, including terrorism, insurgency, transnational organised crime and other asymmetric challenges.
In his remarks, Dr Richard Montgomery congratulated General Oluyede on his distinguished military career and acknowledged the steady progress recorded in defence cooperation between Nigeria and the United Kingdom over the years.
He reaffirmed his country’s commitment to strengthening defence ties with Nigeria, describing the relationship as forward-looking and mutually beneficial.
The UK High Commissioner highlighted the shared responsibility of both nations in promoting regional stability, addressing emerging security challenges and building sustainable military capacity, adding that the United Kingdom remains ready to explore additional areas of cooperation that would further enhance Nigeria’s defence capabilities.
Both parties agreed that sustained engagement, regular dialogue and practical collaboration would remain key to ensuring that the partnership continues to deliver tangible outcomes in support of peace, security and stability within Nigeria and across the wider West African sub-region.
The meeting once again demonstrated the importance Nigeria places on strategic international partnerships as a critical component of its broader national security strategy.
