The UK government has donated highly technical but non-lethal military equipment worth N1 billion (£450,000) to the Nigerian Armed Forces to support the fight against non-state actors.
The UK High Commission in Abuja said the donation further enhanced the partnership between the British Military and the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
It added that the donation supports Nigeria’s fight against violent extremist organisations in the northeast of the country.
“The donation of equipment 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 UK High Commission said.
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 UK stands with Nigeria in the continued fight against violent extremist organisations in the North East,” a statement by the UK High Commission quoted the Deputy Head of British Defence Staff (West Africa) & Commander of British Military Training Teams in Nigeria, Colonel Martin Leach, as saying at the ceremony.
Seven further courses will be delivered between now and February 2025, focussing 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.
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