EU announces €70m support for Nigeria’s security, agriculture
By Taiwo Scholarstica
The European Union has announced new support packages totaling €70 million for Nigeria, with €45 million earmarked for security and peacebuilding and another €25 million for agriculture.
The announcement was made on Thursday when the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, met with the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja.
The two sides also reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the strategic partnership between Nigeria and the European Union.
According to a statement issued by the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the meeting reviewed developments since the Second Nigeria-EU Ministerial Dialogue held in March 2026.
The discussions also covered several areas of cooperation, including security, trade, investment, agriculture, innovation, migration and regional stability.
Mignot disclosed that “the EU was finalising approval of a €20 million support package under the European Peace Facility to strengthen Nigeria’s counter-terrorism capabilities through the provision of counter-drone and counter-improvised explosive device equipment.”
He added that “an additional €25 million peace and stabilisation programme for Nigeria’s North-West was also being prepared alongside other peacebuilding initiatives.”
The EU envoy further announced “that preparations had reached an advanced stage for a €25 million flagship agricultural programme focusing on Nigeria’s dairy and cocoa value chains.”
He also said discussions were ongoing with the Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission over President Bola Tinubu’s planned official visit to Brussels, with October 2026 being considered the most suitable period.
According to him, the visit “would provide an important platform for further consolidating the strategic partnership between Nigeria and the European Union and unveiling significant new areas of cooperation.”
Mignot also spoke about ongoing negotiations on the Nigeria-European Union Readmission Agreement and the Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation Agreement.
He said the latter would boost research partnerships and create more opportunities for Nigerian institutions under the Horizon Europe Research Programme.
The ambassador also highlighted the outcome of the Nigeria-EU Business Forum held in Lagos, noting that investments from the European Investment Bank and other European financial institutions were increasing in support of small and medium-sized businesses, particularly enterprises owned by women and young people.
Responding, Odumegwu-Ojukwu welcomed the progress recorded in Nigeria-EU relations and thanked the bloc for its continued assistance through programmes such as the Global Gateway Initiative and the European Peace Facility.
She reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to expanding cooperation with the EU in trade, investment, renewable energy, agriculture, infrastructure, innovation, migration, peace and security.
The minister also praised the European Union for its continued support for Nigeria’s security efforts, particularly assistance provided to the Multinational Joint Task Force and regional peacebuilding programmes.
She welcomed the proposed North-West Stabilisation Programme and called for increased international support to help the country respond to emerging security threats.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu described the planned presidential visit to Brussels as an opportunity to further strengthen economic ties and attract more investment, noting that the European Union remains one of Nigeria’s major trading and development partners.
On security, the minister appreciated what she described as the EU’s balanced understanding of Nigeria’s security challenges.
She noted that the country’s security problems arise from “multiple factors, including terrorism, banditry, communal conflicts, resource competition, and criminality, rather than religious persecution alone.”
The meeting also considered issues surrounding democratic governance, migration, regional security, developments within ECOWAS and the Alliance of Sahel States, as well as wider international matters.
Mignot informed the minister that the European Union planned to deploy an Electoral Expert Mission to Nigeria ahead of the forthcoming elections.
The mission is expected to provide technical assistance on electoral reforms and the implementation of recommendations from previous electoral processes.
Both parties reaffirmed their resolve to strengthen the Nigeria-EU Strategic Partnership through continued political engagement, increased economic cooperation, stronger collaboration on peace and security, and closer coordination on regional and international matters.
They expressed optimism that President Tinubu’s proposed visit to Brussels would serve as another major step towards strengthening relations between Nigeria and the European Union.