By SUMAILA OGBAJE

Nigeria and the United Kingdom have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation against terrorism financing, cyber threats, disinformation and other emerging security challenges under the renewed UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership.

The commitment was made on Tuesday at the opening of the 4th UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership Dialogue in Abuja.

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, said the partnership had evolved into a broad strategic framework covering counterterrorism, cybersecurity, regional stability, crisis response, maritime security and intelligence cooperation.

According to him, the dialogue comes at a time when the global security environment is becoming increasingly complex, with traditional threats evolving alongside new and technology-driven challenges.

He added that “terrorism, violent extremism, cybercrime, organised criminal networks, illicit financial flows, foreign information manipulation and interference require unprecedented levels of cooperation among trusted partners.

“No nation can address these threats alone. Effective responses require coordinated action across defence, intelligence, law enforcement, diplomacy, cyber capabilities and financial tools.”

Ribadu said Nigeria remained committed to confronting security threats through a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, noting that significant progress had been made in degrading terrorist and criminal networks operating in the country.

He added that Nigeria would continue to play its role as leading security actor in Africa by promoting regional stability, democratic governance and collective resilience against shared threats.

The NSA commended the UK for its support in strengthening Nigeria’s crisis response capabilities, disrupting terrorist financing networks, enhancing investigations and supporting strategic communications.

He acknowledged ongoing collaboration aimed at strengthening the National Counter Terrorism Centre and advancing sustainable counterterrorism measures.

Ribadu said both countries were also deepening cooperation in cybersecurity and information resilience to counter the growing exploitation of cyberspace and digital platforms by criminal and hostile actors.

“The future security landscape will be shaped not only by conventional threats but also by technology, information and data.

“Building resilience against these threats requires stronger partnerships, deeper intelligence sharing and greater investment in innovation,” he said.

In his remarks, the United Kingdom National Security Adviser, Mr Jonathan Powell, described Nigeria as UK’s foremost partner in Africa and a critical pillar of regional stability and collective security.

Powell said modern threats had become increasingly interconnected, requiring countries to adapt and work together more closely.

“We face an era of hybrid threats. Terrorism, cyber threats, disinformation, illicit finance, organised crime and attacks on critical infrastructure are increasingly connected.

“These challenges require us to adapt our approaches and work more closely together than ever before,” he said.

According to Powell, the UK partnership with Nigeria is grounded in practical cooperation, including frontline operational support, institutional strengthening, crisis preparedness and future threat mitigation.

He disclosed that British military personnel were currently supporting Nigerian forces in Maiduguri, while counterterrorism specialists were working with Nigerian law enforcement agencies and the National Counter Terrorism Centre.

Powell said a major focus of the partnership was preparing for future threats through enhanced cyber capabilities, resilience against disinformation and protection of democratic institutions.

“Disinformation has become one of the greatest challenges facing democracies today. It has the potential to undermine trust in institutions, deepen divisions within society and weaken national cohesion.

“We must take this threat seriously and develop effective strategies to counter it,” he said.

Powell also stressed the need to tackle illicit financial networks that sustain terrorism, organised crime and instability, saying this required close collaboration among governments, law enforcement agencies and international partners.

He added that the UK remained committed to helping Nigeria build resilient institutions and sustainable sovereign capacities capable of addressing both present and future security challenges.

The dialogue is expected to review progress made under the bilateral security partnership and identify new areas of cooperation in addressing emerging threats.

It has in attendance, heads of defence and security agencies including the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, other service chiefs, as well as defence and diplomatic officials from both countries. (NAN)

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