Odita Sunday 
By Odita Sunday
Nigeria and the United Kingdom have reaffirmed their commitment to stronger defence and security cooperation as the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, received the United Kingdom’s National Security Adviser, Jonathan Powell, in Abuja.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the fourth UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership (SDP4) Dialogue currently taking place in the Federal Capital Territory.
During the talks, the Defence Minister stressed the need for closer collaboration between both countries in tackling emerging security threats, particularly in the areas of counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing and regional stability.
”Nigeria values its historic and strategic relationship with the United Kingdom,” the minister stated.
He noted that both countries have continued to maintain strong security ties and expressed optimism that the partnership would deliver greater benefits in addressing contemporary security challenges.
The minister and the visiting British National Security Adviser also agreed to review existing Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to strengthen cooperation in security operations, technical training and capacity development for the Nigerian Armed Forces.
The bilateral meeting coincided with the ongoing two-day Security and Defence Partnership Dialogue hosted by the Office of the National Security Adviser in Abuja.
The high-level dialogue is being co-chaired by Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and his British counterpart, Jonathan Powell.
According to the Ministry of Defence, discussions at the forum are expected to shape the future direction of security cooperation between both countries and strengthen collaboration in addressing mutual security concerns through 2026 and beyond.
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