By Our reporter – The Strategic Defence Partnership Meeting between Nigeria and United Kingdom held from Monday 31 January 2022 to Wednesday 2 February 2022 during which several issues bordering on security cooperation, border management among others, were discussed.
Leading both delegations were the National S between ecurity Advisers; Maj Gen B Mungono Rtd on the Nigerian Side and Sir Stephen Lovegrove on the United Kingdom Side.
The Nigerian delegation also comprised the Chief of Defence Staff Gen Leo Irabor, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Justice Chief of Defence Intelligence, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Services, the Director-Consular and Legal Services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Director Ministry of Justice among others.
The High Commissioner of Nigeria to the United Kingdom H.E. Sarafa Tunji Isola and his UK Counterpart H.E. Catriona Lang, were also in attendance. The meeting covered several aspects of Nigeria-UK Security cooperation including; Civilian Policing, Human Rights, Civilian-led Civil-Military Cooperation, Defence Cooperation, Women, Peace and Security.
The meeting which spanned for three days had a number of break-out sessions and side meetings. Both governments made far-reaching commitments on Enhanced Cooperation between both countries, strengthening issues of Civilian Policing, approaches to stabilisation including Civilian-led Security and Civil-Military Co-operation, Human Rights matters, Women Youth, Peace and Security, Serious Organised Crimes, and Assets Return among others.
The Strategic Partnership Dialogue had a closing Session on Wednesday 2 February 2022 during which there was a recap on the outcomes of the meeting and a celebration of the collaboration between both countries.
The Nigeria-United Kingdom Strategic Defence Partnership (SDP) has its origin from the 2-day working visit of former Prime Minister Theresa May, to Nigeria in August 2018. As part of the outcomes of the meeting, two agreements were signed between the United Kingdom and Nigeria, one of which was the Security and Defence Partnership Agreement. Pursuant to the objectives of the Agreement, Bilateral Security Consultations would be held at alternate capitals.
Defence cooperation
The United Kingdom and Nigeria celebrate our close and long-standing defence partnership. The United Kingdom reaffirms its support for long-term defence modernisation and transformation in Nigeria, and, in support, offers a refreshed package of leadership training for Nigerian military training institutions and the continuation of a training offer which builds understanding of international human rights and international humanitarian law. The United Kingdom and Nigeria agree to explore future cooperation between the UK Armed Forces and Nigeria’s Defence Special Operations Force, to build Nigerian capacity to respond to the range of security challenges it faces effectively and in a human rights compliant way. The United Kingdom and Nigeria reaffirm our commitment to countering terrorism in Nigeria, including providing agreed upon necessary training, and capacity building support to Nigeria in her efforts to address terrorist and other insurgent forces in the North East region of Nigeria.
The United Kingdom and Nigeria affirm our commitment to cooperate on maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea. Nigeria reiterates its commitment to deter, disrupt and prosecute maritime crime (including piracy and armed robbery against ships) through maritime security operations at sea, and to actively participate in the G7++ Friends of the Gulf of Guinea, to this end. The United Kingdom offers support to build Nigeria’s maritime capabilities, to continue supporting both the Gulf of Guinea Maritime Collaboration Forum/SHADE mechanism and the Yaoundé Code of Conduct framework, and to collaborate with Nigerian on enhancing port security.
Countering terrorism and violent extremism
The United Kingdom and Nigeria reaffirm our commitment to work together to respond to the shared threat of terrorism. In support of this commitment the United Kingdom offers to share our experience of delivering a multi-agency approach in response to terrorist incidents. The United Kingdom also offers to share insight on terrorist financing, trans-border movements and the illegal movement of small arms and light weapons.
The United Kingdom and Nigeria commit to continue working together in support of an integrated strategy that addresses underlying drivers and vulnerabilities to violent extremism, as well as transparent, comprehensive and human rights compliant defection, demobilisation, disengagement and de- radicalisation and reintegration (4DR) processes, which provide a genuine pathway for members of violent extremist organisations (VEOs) to defect and reintegrate into their communities.
The United Kingdom and Nigeria celebrate our close work on aviation security and the steps already taken to make travel between our countries more secure.
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