The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening defence and security cooperation with Nigeria, with emphasis on military training, technology transfer and institutional capacity building.

The British high commissioner to Nigeria, Pete Vowles, reiterated the commitment during a courtesy visit to defence chief Olufemi Oluyede at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, according to a statement on Tuesday.

Mr Vowles reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to sustaining existing security initiatives and exploring new areas of collaboration to address evolving regional and global security challenges. He described defence and security cooperation as critical pillars of the longstanding bilateral relationship between the two countries.

The high commissioner also stressed the need for a mutually beneficial partnership that would promote regional stability and strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to tackle contemporary security threats.

Mr Oluyede highlighted the longstanding historical ties between Nigeria and the UK, noting that both countries have maintained productive defence relations for several decades. He said the two countries had continued to collaborate in addressing shared security concerns.

The defence chief restated the need to sustain and expand existing areas of cooperation, particularly in professional military education, technology transfer and institutional capacity building. According to him, ongoing defence agreements and training programmes have helped improve the professional competence and operational capabilities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

Mr Oluyede underscored that continued collaboration with strategic international partners remained vital to strengthening the military’s capacity to respond effectively to emerging threats. He added that such partnerships would also promote greater self-reliance, institutional resilience and operational efficiency within the armed forces.

Both parties expressed optimism about the future of the UK-Nigeria defence and security partnership, reaffirming their commitment to consolidating existing achievements and exploring further areas of cooperation for mutual benefit.

(NAN)