The United Kingdom has donated highly technical, non-lethal military equipment worth N1 billion to Nigeria to further enhance the ongoing partnership between the British military and the Nigerian Armed Forces.
 
A statement from the British High Commission in Abuja said the donation supports Nigeria’s fight against violent extremist organisations in the North East zone of the country.
 
The donation, the statement noted, complements a new and significant package of courses delivered by the British military.
 
“A team of 20 personnel from the British Army are currently living and working in Maiduguri, delivering a course focused on enhancing the critical skills needed for continued operations against violent extremist organisations in the North East” the commission said.
 
The statement disclosed that the equipment was received by the Joint Task Force North East (JTF NE) Theatre Commander, Major General Wahidi Shaibu, at a handover ceremony in Maiduguri.
 
The deputy head of British Defence Staff in West Africa and Commander, British Military Training Teams in Nigeria, Colonel Martin Leach, who spoke at the ceremony, expressed delight over the development
 
“I am delighted to be here today to hand over this equipment and mark another development in the strong partnership between the United Kingdom and Nigeria. The UK stands with Nigeria in the continued fight against violent extremist organisations in the North East,” he stated.
 
He disclosed that “seven further courses will be delivered between now and February 2025, focusing on training Nigerian Army personnel in the specialist skills required for future operations in the North East of Nigeria.”
 
“In addition, the UK currently has personnel attached temporarily to the Theatre Counter-IED Coordination Cell in Maiduguri, working with their Nigerian counterparts to develop intelligence on the terror networks that are killing civilians and soldiers with IEDs.”