The European Union (EU) has launched its first defence dialogue with Nigeria, marking a milestone in efforts to strengthen security cooperation between the two partners. The EU has contributed a total of €234.4 million to date to support Nigeria’s security task force, enhancing its capabilities, responsiveness, and coordination in tackling regional security challenges.
- The EU and Nigeria have formalized deeper defense cooperation, holding their first joint security dialogue in Brussels in February 2026.
- Discussions focused on counter-terrorism, maritime security, cyber threats, transnational crime, and peace mediation, aiming for greater collaboration.
- The EU has provided significant support to Nigeria, especially in regional security and humanitarian aid, totalling over €700 million between 2015 and 2025.
- Nigeria faces multiple security challenges, including jihadist insurgency, banditry, kidnappings, oil theft, and maritime crime.
On 18 February 2026, the EU and Nigeria held their first Peace, Security, and Defence Dialogue in Brussels, co-chaired by EEAS Deputy Secretary-General Charles Fries and Nigeria’s National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
The talks focused on counter-terrorism, maritime security, cyber threats, transnational crime, DDR, and peace mediation, exploring opportunities for deeper cooperation.
The EU and Nigeria have collaborated for over a decade on regional security in the Lake Chad Basin and Gulf of Guinea, combining security, humanitarian, and development support, including DDR, mediation, justice reform, and resilience programs.
Between 2015 and 2025, the EU provided over €700 million to Nigeria, including €500 million in humanitarian aid, making it the EU’s largest bilateral development partner in Sub-Saharan Africa. The EU is also the major contributor to Nigeria’s security task force, with €234.4 million to date, strengthening its capabilities, coordination, and responsiveness.
The move comes as Nigeria battles a complex web of threats: jihadist insurgency in the northeast, banditry and mass kidnappings in the northwest, oil theft in the Niger Delta, and maritime crime in the Gulf of Guinea.
Despite record security spending in recent years, violence continues to strain public finances and investor confidence.
Nigeria’s Multi-Region Security Strategy
The EU’s renewed engagement follows growing security ties with the United States and Turkey.
Washington has long supported Nigeria through training, intelligence cooperation and arms sales, while Ankara has expanded defence exports including drones and tactical equipment as it deepens its footprint across Africa.
Turkey’s rise as a security partner reflects Nigeria’s effort to diversify military procurement beyond traditional Western suppliers.
Analysts say this multi-vector diplomacy reflects both necessity and strategy. Nigeria’s armed forces face overstretch across multiple theatres, and modern warfare increasingly requires advanced surveillance, intelligence-sharing and cybersecurity capabilities.
External partnerships can plug capability gaps and provide funding, technology and training that would take years to develop domestically.
However, critics argue that foreign assistance alone cannot resolve Nigeria’s insecurity. Structural issues ranging from weak local governance and porous borders to youth unemployment and arms proliferation require sustained domestic reform. Overreliance on external partners may also create strategic dependencies.
Still, with Nigeria accounting for nearly half of West Africa’s population and roughly 60% of its GDP, its stability is a regional priority.
As insecurity persists, Abuja appears determined to leverage global partnerships from Washington to Ankara to Brussels in a bid to restore order and safeguard economic growth.
