Nigeria–UK Defence Relations Get Boost As CDS Meets British High Commissioner
Nigeria and the United Kingdom have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral defence cooperation as part of efforts to address evolving regional and global security threats.
The renewed commitment was made on Thursday, 6 February 2026, when the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa Oluyede, received the United Kingdom High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery, at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
During the meeting, General Oluyede commended the United Kingdom for its long-standing partnership with the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), particularly in the areas of Professional Military Education (PME), specialised training and operational capacity development.
He noted that sustained defence collaboration remains vital to Nigeria’s broader objective of strengthening national and regional security, while reaffirming the AFN’s commitment to continuous professional development.
The CDS also emphasised the need to expand mutually beneficial bilateral defence relations, expressing optimism that enhanced cooperation with the United Kingdom — especially in emerging security domains and intelligence support — would further improve operational effectiveness in line with contemporary security realities.
In his remarks, Dr Montgomery congratulated General Oluyede on his distinguished service and acknowledged the progress recorded in defence cooperation between both countries.
He reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s commitment to deepening defence ties with Nigeria, stressing the shared responsibility of both nations in promoting regional stability, addressing emerging security challenges and building sustainable military capacity.
Dr Montgomery described the Nigeria–UK defence partnership as forward-looking and mutually beneficial.
The high-level engagement focused on strengthening both operational and strategic cooperation between the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the United Kingdom in response to dynamic security threats.
The meeting underscores Nigeria’s continued reliance on strategic international partnerships as part of its efforts to confront contemporary security challenges.
