Nigeria, EU deepen security ties as Brussels prepares €45m support package

Nigeria and the European Union (EU) have moved to deepen their strategic partnership, with the EU finalising a €20 million security support package for Nigeria’s counter-terrorism operations and preparing an additional €25 million peace and stabilisation programme for the North-West.

The renewed commitment emerged on Thursday after Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, held talks with Gautier Mignot, European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja.

The meeting reviewed the state of Nigeria-EU relations, assessed progress since the Second Nigeria-EU Ministerial Dialogue held in March 2026, and explored new areas of cooperation covering political engagement, economic development, security and sustainable development.

During the discussions, Mignot disclosed that the European Union was in the final stages of approving a €20 million support package under the European Peace Facility to strengthen Nigeria’s fight against terrorism.

According to him, the intervention will provide counter-drone and counter-improvised explosive device (IED) equipment to enhance the operational capabilities of Nigerian security agencies.
He also announced that the EU was preparing an additional €25 million peace and stabilisation programme targeted at Nigeria’s North-West, a region that has continued to face persistent insecurity, alongside other peacebuilding initiatives aimed at promoting stability across the country.

The development comes as Nigeria continues to seek stronger international partnerships to tackle terrorism, banditry and other security challenges affecting parts of the country.

On diplomatic relations, Mignot reaffirmed the European Union’s commitment to facilitating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s proposed official visit to Brussels.

He said consultations were ongoing with the Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission to agree on mutually convenient dates, with October 2026 emerging as the most likely period for the visit.

According to the ambassador, the planned visit is expected to provide an opportunity for both sides to consolidate the Nigeria-European Union Strategic Partnership and unveil new areas of cooperation in trade, investment, governance and development.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening relations with the European Union, noting that sustained political dialogue and practical cooperation remain vital to addressing shared economic and security priorities.

Both parties reiterated their commitment to expanding collaboration through enhanced political engagement, economic cooperation, security partnerships and sustainable development initiatives.

The Nigeria-European Union Strategic Partnership has continued to evolve in recent years, with the bloc remaining one of Nigeria’s largest trading partners and a major source of development assistance, supporting programmes in governance, education, healthcare, climate action, humanitarian response and peacebuilding.

The latest commitments are expected to further reinforce cooperation between both partners, particularly in addressing security challenges while expanding economic and diplomatic engagement.