The Minister of Defence, Muhammed Badaru, has emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with the United Kingdom in order to address the issue of insecurity.
Mr Badaru made this statement during a courtesy visit by a UK delegation led by James Heappey, the Minister for Armed Forces and Veterans, at his office.
This information was disclosed in a press statement on Thursday in Abuja by Mrs Victoria Agba-Attah, the Director of Press and Public Relations at the ministry.
Mr Badaru commended Britain for its support in safeguarding Nigerian waterways, highlighting that security is a complex matter with its own set of challenges.
He reiterated the need for the Nigerian and British militaries to work together in order to combat the Boko Haram threat, underscoring the importance of increased support from the West, similar to the aid provided to other nations.
Furthermore, in his remarks, the Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, emphasized the longstanding bilateral relationship between Nigeria and the UK.
Dr Matawalle reaffirmed the Federal Government’s determination to bring an end to insurgency and banditry in the country.
He also stressed the need for close collaboration between both countries in areas such as capacity building, military personnel training, technology transfer, and the provision of modern equipment to combat Boko Haram.
In his opening statement, Dr Ibrahim Kana, the Permanent Secretary at the ministry, highlighted Britain’s position as Nigeria’s top international ally, expressing Nigeria’s deep appreciation for the relationship between the two countries.
Mr Heappey, in his earlier remarks, stated that the purpose of their visit was to assess and expand their support to the Armed Forces of Nigeria based on the evolving threats and their perception of them.
NAN
