By Janefrances Chibuzor
Nigeria and the United Kingdom have strengthened their strategic security alliance with fresh commitments to combat terrorism, cyber threats, maritime crime, fraud and illicit finance, while expanding cooperation on defence, human rights, election security and regional stability across West Africa.
The renewed commitments were outlined in a communiqué issued at the end of the Fourth United Kingdom–Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership (SDP) Dialogue, held at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Abuja, on June 23–24, 2026.
The dialogue was co-chaired by Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the United Kingdom’s National Security Adviser, Jonathan Powell, with senior officials from both governments reviewing progress made since the third dialogue in London in 2025 and agreeing on new priorities for bilateral security cooperation.
A major outcome of the meeting was the decision to deepen defence collaboration through joint military training, doctrine development and technical support aimed at improving Nigeria’s capacity to tackle improvised explosive devices (IEDs), uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) and other emerging security threats.
Both countries also agreed to strengthen maritime security cooperation in the Gulf of Guinea, improve Nigeria’s maritime domain awareness capabilities and sustain the hydrography partnership, with the United Kingdom reaffirming support for the National Hydrographic Agency.
The communiqué further revealed plans to establish a more structured partnership to counter hybrid threats, including cyber-attacks, foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), misinformation and transnational organised crime.
Under the arrangement, both countries will expand intelligence sharing, strengthen cyber resilience, develop joint capability-building programmes and coordinate strategies to address evolving digital threats while respecting international humanitarian and human rights standards.
Counter-terrorism cooperation also received renewed attention.
According to the communiqué, Nigeria and the UK agreed to strengthen intelligence exchange, improve multi-agency coordination, reinforce crisis preparedness and continue aviation security capacity-building at Lagos and Abuja airports.
The United Kingdom also pledged continued support for Nigeria’s National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), forensic investigations, strategic communications and the nationwide rollout of the Multi-Agency Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell.
Recognising that military operations alone cannot address violent extremism, both governments reaffirmed support for non-kinetic measures, including disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR), with the UK committing to assist Nigeria in implementing its national DDR policy framework.
The communiqué also acknowledged Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to speed up terrorism prosecutions through remote court proceedings and mass trials at the Federal High Court, describing them as important steps towards ensuring justice while maintaining compliance with human rights obligations.
Human rights and civilian protection featured prominently during the dialogue.
Both countries agreed to strengthen accountability for violations committed by both state and non-state actors and welcomed the participation of the National Human Rights Commission in investigations involving recent military air strikes.
The United Kingdom further offered technical assistance to improve the commission’s capacity to investigate abuses committed by armed groups while supporting Nigeria’s Women, Peace and Security agenda, conflict prevention initiatives and early warning mechanisms.
Ahead of Nigeria’s forthcoming elections, both governments underscored the need for effective election security, protection of democratic institutions and public order management consistent with international standards.
The dialogue also produced fresh commitments to combat fraud and illicit financial flows.
Both countries agreed to strengthen intelligence exchange, improve asset recovery, enhance oversight of virtual assets and cryptocurrencies, and develop a joint action plan to improve investigations, prosecutions and coordinated enforcement against organised financial crimes.
On regional security, Nigeria and the United Kingdom expressed concern over the worsening security situation in the Sahel and reaffirmed Nigeria’s leadership role in promoting peace and stability across West Africa through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The UK also welcomed Nigeria’s efforts to transform the National Counter Terrorism Centre into a regional centre of excellence and its decision to join the International Counter Terrorism Academy in Côte d’Ivoire to strengthen regional counter-terrorism cooperation.
To ensure implementation, officials from both countries were tasked with monitoring agreed actions and reviewing progress ahead of the fifth Security and Defence Partnership Dialogue, scheduled to be hosted by the United Kingdom in 2027.
The communiqué was jointly endorsed by Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser to the Federal Government of Nigeria, and Jonathan Powell, Prime Minister’s National Security Adviser for His Majesty’s Government of the United Kingdom, who reaffirmed their commitment to translating the agreements into measurable outcomes under the broader UK–Nigeria Strategic Partnership.
