British High Commissioner to Nigeria Catriona Laing has expressed worry at the country’s deteriorating security situation, pledging that the UK government is keen on helping Nigeria win its fight against insecurity.

“We are extremely concerned about the deteriorating security situation.

“I mean, Nigeria is facing a lot of problems everywhere – in the North-East, terrorism; in the North-West, banditry, kidnapping; in the Middle Belt, the farmers-herders conflict; in the South, the Niger Delta conflict everywhere.

“And the secession movements in the South-East. So, Nigeria is really struggling,” Ms Liang noted.

She stated this while speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a reception held to welcome home the 2019/2020 UK Chevening Scholarship beneficiaries.

Ms Laing added that the UK government had been helping the Nigerian military in training, campaign planning, and how to counter IEDs.

“Well, we are here to support and help. We have the military team here, who came here after the Chibok girls were kidnapped, actually. We are still here, training the Nigerian military, helping them to do campaign planning, how to counter IEDs,” explained Ms Laing.

She further noted that the recent visit of the UK’s Minister of Armed Forces, during which he interacted with the Nigerian government at the highest level, including the service chiefs, also showed the UK government’s commitment.

However, the British diplomat urged President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime to be a bit more precise about the support they needed from the UK and what the UK can offer.

“So, we are here for the long time. This is a Nigerian partnership. Your insecurity becomes our insecurity if we don’t help you tackle it. So, we are here, and we are trying to do our best to support you,” the envoy stated.

Commending the Chevening programme, Ms Lang said it was an initiative by the UK to prepare future leaders who would excel in academic qualifications and be ready to return to their respective countries to give back.

She disclosed that Nigeria already had 1,300 Chevening alumni, currently occupying important positions in power, thereby providing the UK with both access and influence.

(NAN)