Nigeria and the United Kingdom have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral defence and security cooperation as the Honourable Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), OFR, hosted the United Kingdom’s National Security Adviser, Jonathan Powell, in Abuja.
According to an official signed statement by the Special Adviser (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Defence, Leah Katung-Babatunde, the meeting took place at the Ship House, Abuja, during the visit of the UK National Security Adviser and his delegation for the 4th UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership (SDP4) Dialogue.
During the high-level engagement, General Musa reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to sustaining and enhancing its strategic partnership with the United Kingdom to address evolving security challenges. He emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation in key areas, including counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing, and the promotion of regional stability.
“Nigeria values its historic and strategic relationship with the United Kingdom,” the Defence Minister stated, while underscoring the significance of continued collaboration between both nations.
As part of efforts to further deepen bilateral relations, General Musa and Jonathan Powell agreed on a comprehensive review of existing Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between Nigeria and the United Kingdom. The review will focus on modernising security protocols, expanding technical training programmes, and enhancing capacity-building initiatives for the Nigerian Armed Forces.
The bilateral meeting was held on the sidelines of the two-day SDP4 Dialogue hosted by the Office of the National Security Adviser in Abuja. The dialogue was co-led by Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and the UK National Security Adviser, Jonathan Powell.
The summit provided a platform for both countries to review existing areas of cooperation and chart a forward-looking agenda aimed at strengthening security collaboration through 2026 and beyond.
The engagement reflects the growing strategic partnership between Nigeria and the United Kingdom and underscores the shared commitment of both nations to addressing regional and global security challenges through enhanced cooperation and mutual support.
