The United Kingdom is set to deepen military support for Nigeria through expanded combat training, counter-drone systems, tactical intelligence capabilities and possible transfers of protected mobility vehicles and specialised ammunition, as both countries strengthen their strategic defence partnership.
The proposed measures formed part of discussions between the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, and the British Defence Adviser to Nigeria, Brigadier Tom Harper, MBE, during the latter’s courtesy visit to Army Headquarters, Abuja, on Tuesday.
The engagement, according to the Nigerian Army, is aimed at strengthening the capacity of Nigerian troops to confront evolving security threats, particularly asymmetric warfare and operations in difficult terrain.
Harper said the United Kingdom would continue to support Nigeria under the Security and Defence Partnership (SDP), with emphasis on building operational and institutional capacity.
A key component of the proposed support is the expansion of regional train-the-trainer programmes, which will cover combat tactical drills, casualty care and advanced patrolling.
A statement from the Acting Director Nigerian Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele and posted on the verified X handle of the Army stated that the programmes are expected to go beyond Nigerian troops, with future Operation HADIN KAI training cohorts involving military personnel from Niger, Cameroon and Chad.
The initiative is expected to improve interoperability among the countries and strengthen their collective response to cross-border security threats.
The UK also proposed support for the establishment of a reference Forward Operating Base within a cantonment environment, as well as the provision of counter-unmanned aerial systems to help Nigerian forces deal with the growing threat posed by drones on the battlefield.
Another major area of proposed cooperation is intelligence gathering. The British side highlighted plans to expand tactical Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance capabilities to brigade level, a move expected to enhance troops’ ability to detect, track and respond to threats before they escalate.
Discussions also covered defence procurement and wider capability development, including air defence systems, possible transfers of protected mobility vehicles and specialised ammunition support.
The initiatives come as the Nigerian Army seeks to strengthen its capacity to operate against insurgents and other armed groups in increasingly complex environments.
Receiving the British delegation, Shaibu said Nigeria’s defence partnership with the UK remained important to the Army’s efforts to build a more adaptable, combat-ready and resilient force.
He said sustained cooperation with trusted international partners was critical to improving operational effectiveness, force protection, intelligence capabilities, specialised training and institutional capacity.
The Army chief identified asymmetric warfare and operations in dense and difficult terrain, particularly in the North-East, as major operational challenges requiring improved intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, technical intelligence, aviation capability and continuous situational awareness down to battalion level.
He also pointed to the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions, saying the growth would require corresponding investments in advanced training, instructor development and Special Forces capabilities.
Shaibu specifically highlighted the need to strengthen the Doma training facility and improve the Army’s capacity to prepare troops for contemporary warfare.
Beyond equipment and battlefield capability, the Army chief said the service was also working to institutionalise operational lessons and preserve military history by incorporating historic campaigns, including the Longest Advance, into command curricula and digitising military archives.
The discussions underline a broader shift in the Nigeria-UK defence relationship from conventional military cooperation towards a more comprehensive partnership covering training, intelligence, technology, force protection, equipment and institutional development.
For Nigeria, the proposed UK assistance could provide additional capacity as the military confronts insurgency and other asymmetric threats across the country and seeks to improve coordination with neighbouring states.
The British support, if fully implemented, would also strengthen Nigeria’s ability to detect emerging threats, protect troops from increasingly sophisticated weapons, including unmanned systems, and deploy forces more effectively in challenging operational environments.
