Nigeria and the European Union (EU) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their strategic partnership through enhanced political dialogue, economic cooperation, security collaboration, and sustainable development.
The two parties made this known during a meeting between Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu and Mr. Gautier Mignot, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, on Thursday in Abuja.
According to the statement by Mr Kimiebi Ebienfa, the spokesman of the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting centred on the review of the state of Nigeria-EU relations, assessment of progress made since the Second Nigeria-EU Ministerial Dialogue held in March 2026 and exchange of views on key bilateral, regional, and global issues of mutual interest.
Mrs. Odumegwu-Ojukwu commended Nigeria-EU relations and expressed appreciation for the EU’s continued support through the Global Gateway Initiative, the European Peace Facility and other development cooperation programmes.
She reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, renewable energy, agriculture, infrastructure, innovation, migration, peace and security.
The minister expressed appreciation to the EU for its sustained support to Nigeria’s security architecture, particularly its assistance to the Multinational Joint Task Force and regional peace-building initiatives.
She also welcomed the proposed North-West Stabilisation Programme and emphasised the need for increased international support to address the evolving security challenges in the region.
According to her, the EU is one of Nigeria’s foremost trading and development partners, saying Mignot’s visit will help to enhance economic cooperation, attract greater investment, and strengthen existing strategic initiatives between both sides.
Earlier, Mignot reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to facilitating the proposed official visit of President Bola Tinubu to Brussels, in line with ongoing consultations with the Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission to identify mutually convenient dates in October, 2026.
He disclosed that the proposed visit would further consolidate the strategic partnership between Nigeria and the EU and unveil new areas of cooperation.
According to Mignot, the EU is finalising approval of a 20 million Euros support package under the European Peace Facility to strengthen Nigeria’s counter-terrorism capabilities through the provision of counter-drone and counter-IED equipment.
He added also that an additional 25 million Euros peace and stabilisation programme for Nigeria’s North-West was under preparation, alongside other peace-building initiatives aimed at promoting peace and stability across the country.
Mignot explained that the ongoing negotiations about Nigeria-European Union Readmission Agreement and the Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation Agreement would further deepen research collaboration and expand opportunities for Nigerian institutions under the Horizon Europe Research Programme.
On economic cooperation, he reiterated preparations had reached advanced stage for a new €25 million flagship agricultural programme focusing on the dairy and cocoa value chains.
GIK/APA