By Gabriel Ameh
Nigeria and the United Kingdom have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening defence cooperation as part of efforts to address evolving security challenges through sustained international collaboration.
This was highlighted on Thursday, February 6, 2026, when the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General O.O. Oluyede, received the United Kingdom High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery, at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
General Oluyede commended the UK for its longstanding partnership with the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), particularly in the areas of Professional Military Education (PME), specialised training, and operational capacity development. He noted that the cooperation has remained vital to Nigeria’s goals of strengthening both national and regional security.
The CDS reaffirmed the AFN’s commitment to continuous professional development and stressed the importance of expanding mutually beneficial bilateral defence relations. He expressed optimism that enhanced collaboration especially in emerging security domains and intelligence support would further improve operational effectiveness in response to contemporary threats.
In his remarks, Dr Montgomery congratulated the CDS on his service and acknowledged the progress made in defence cooperation between both countries. He reiterated the UK’s commitment to strengthening defence ties with Nigeria, noting the shared responsibility to promote regional stability, address emerging threats, and build sustainable military capacity.
The meeting focused on advancing both operational and strategic cooperation between the AFN and the United Kingdom in response to dynamic regional and global security realities.
This statement was signed by Samaila Uba Major General Director, Defence Information 6th February
