The United Kingdom’s Minister of State for Armed Forces, James Heappey, said on Tuesday that Britain is committed to improving intelligence sharing with Nigeria and other countries to combat terrorism and piracy in the Lake Chad Basin and the Gulf of Guinea. He made the remarks while speaking to journalists at the British High Commission in Abuja.
Heappey emphasized that the UK will support regional nations in developing their own solutions to security challenges. He highlighted the long‑standing, strong relationship between the UK and the Nigerian armed forces, noting that the discussion focused on the region’s security issues. “We have an opportunity to improve our intelligence sharing, and capability in surveillance and reconnaissance is really important,” he said. While acknowledging that the intelligence relationship is still immature, he described it as both a concern and an opportunity.
The minister explained that the close ties between the two armed forces are continually renewed since independence, as they have worked together to address maritime insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea and terrorism in the Lake Chad Basin. This cooperation includes joint training, sharing tactics and techniques, and naval operations in which the Royal Navy has provided Nigeria with training and capability development in the Gulf of Guinea.
Heappey affirmed that both countries will continue to strengthen their efforts against insecurity, stating, “We are in constant conversation and need to collaborate to fight the spread of violence in the Sahel, the growing instability in Burkina Faso, the continuing violence in the Lake Chad Basin, and the rise of Islamic State in West Africa.”
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