The United Kingdom (UK) on Friday announced that it has donated “highly technical, non-lethal military equipment worth up to one billion Naira (£450,000) to the Nigerian Armed Forces, further enhancing the ongoing partnership between the British Military and the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”
The donation, the UK said “supports Nigeria’s fight against violent extremist organisations in the North East of Nigeria.”
According to a statement by Atinuke Akande-Alegbe, Senior Communications & Public Diplomacy Officer of Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office/British High Commission, Abuja: “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 equipment was received by the Joint Task Force North East (JTF NE) Theatre Commander, Major General Wahidi Shaibu, at a handover ceremony in Maiduguri.”
Speaking at the ceremony, the Deputy Head of British Defence Staff (West Africa) & Commander British Military Training Teams in Nigeria, Colonel Martin Leach said: “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.”
The statement stated that “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.”