Britain donates 1 billion naira of non-lethal military equipment to the Nigerian military
The United Kingdom has donated non-lethal military equipment worth around N1 billion (£450,000) to the Nigerian Armed Forces.
The support aims to strengthen Nigeria’s fight against violent extremist organizations in the North East and represents a strengthened partnership between the British military and the Nigerian Armed Forces.
The equipment was presented to Major General Wahidi Shaibu, the operational commander of the Joint Task Force North East (JTF NE), at a handover ceremony in Maiduguri.
The donation includes advanced, non-lethal technological tools to support the Nigerian Armed Forces in their counterinsurgency efforts.
In addition to this donation, the UK is offering a range of capability building courses tailored to the operational needs of the Nigerian military in the region.
A 20-strong British Army team is based in Maiduguri, where they are currently leading a course focused on developing critical skills required for continued operations against extremist groups. The UK has committed to delivering seven additional training programs by February 2025, targeting the expertise required for Nigeria’s future security operations in the North East.
Strengthening military cooperation
Colonel Martin Leach, Deputy Chief of the UK Defense Staff (West Africa) and Commander of UK Military Training Teams in Nigeria, highlighted the importance of the UK’s partnership with Nigeria in countering extremism.
At the handover he explained: “I am delighted to be here today to hand over this equipment and mark another development in the strong partnership between the UK and Nigeria. The UK stands with Nigeria in the continued fight against violent extremist organizations in the North East.”
In addition to equipment and training, the UK has personnel anchored in the Theater IED Coordination Cell in Maiduguri. This team works closely with Nigerian counterparts to develop intelligence on terrorist networks responsible for the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that target both civilians and military personnel. The aim of this collaboration is to reduce the impact of IED attacks and thereby improve security and stability in the region.
Ongoing training programs
The UK support includes seven additional specialist courses to be delivered in the coming months. These training programs are intended to equip the Nigerian Army with advanced operational skills and ensure a sustainable approach to combating violent extremist organizations in Nigeria.
This donation from the UK reflects a deepening alliance with Nigeria aimed at strengthening the country’s defense mechanisms against terrorism and strengthening its military training resources.
What you should know
Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged $50 billion in financial support and committed to deeper military cooperation with African nations over the next three years.
- Xi presented a vision for improving China-Africa relations, describing this period as the most auspicious in the history of their partnership.
- The $50 billion commitment includes lines of credit, direct assistance and private investments, exceeding the $30 billion pledged three years earlier but falling short of the $60 billion commitments made in 2015 and 2018 .
In addition, Xi announced a $280 million aid split between military and food aid, with $140 million earmarked for military support – the largest defense aid allocation at the forum to date.
