Britain donates N1 billion non-lethal military equipment to the Nigerian Army

The United Kingdom has donated non-lethal military equipment worth about N1 billion (£450,000) to the Nigerian Armed Forces.

The support is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s fight against violent extremist organizations in the North East and represents a strengthened partnership between the British Army and the Nigerian Armed Forces.

The equipment was presented to Major General Wahidi Shaibu, the theater commander of the Joint Task Force North East (JTF NE), at a formal handover ceremony in Maiduguri.

The donation includes advanced, non-lethal technical tools designed to assist the Nigerian Armed Forces in their counter-insurgency efforts.

In addition to this donation, Britain is offering a range of skills-building courses tailored to the operational needs of the Nigerian Army in the region.

A team of 20 from the British Army are based in Maiduguri, where they are currently leading a course aimed at developing crucial skills needed for continued operations against extremist groups. The UK has committed to delivering seven additional training programs by February 2025, targeting the specialist skills 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 British Military Training Teams in Nigeria, stressed the importance of the UK’s partnership with Nigeria in the fight against extremism.

During the handover he said: “I am pleased to be here today to hand over this equipment and mark a new development in the strong partnership between the UK and Nigeria. Britain is supporting Nigeria in the ongoing fight against violent extremist organizations in the North East.”

In addition to equipment and training, Britain has embedded personnel in the Theater Counter-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) targeting both civilians and military personnel. This cooperation aims to reduce the impact of IED attacks and thereby increase security and stability in the region.

Ongoing training programs

Britain’s support includes a further seven specialist courses to be delivered over 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 United Kingdom reflects a deepening alliance with Nigeria aimed at strengthening the country’s defenses against terrorism and strengthening its military training assets.

What you need to know

Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged $50 billion in financial support and committed to deeper military cooperation with African countries over the next three years.

Xi presented a vision for improving China-Africa relations, describing this period as the most favorable in the history of their partnership.
The $50 billion commitment includes lines of credit, direct aid and private investment, exceeding the $30 billion pledged three years earlier but falling short of the $60 billion pledges made in 2015 and 2018.

In addition, Xi announced $280 million in aid, divided between military aid and food aid, of which $140 million was earmarked for military support – the largest defense aid allocation at the Forum to date.