Policy paper

Third UK–Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership Dialogue 2025 Communique

Published 1 August 2025

1. Preamble

The United Kingdom and Nigeria enjoy a deep and long-standing security and defence relationship, underpinned by shared history, mutual trust and Commonwealth principles of democratic governance and respect for international humanitarian and human rights law, as well as a mutual desire to support regional and international peace and security.

The United Kingdom and Nigeria held the Third Security and Defence Partnership (SDP) Dialogue in London on 15 and 16 July 2025. The dialogue was opened by the Honourable Minister of Defence of Nigeria, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, and Honourable Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom, Lord Vernon Coaker.

Building on the previous dialogue, hosted in Abuja in February 2024, the third SDP dialogue included Defence Staff Talks, a cyber dialogue, and cross government dialogues on regional security, counter-terrorism, human rights, policing and civil-military coordination. Senior representatives from across the Governments of Nigeria and the United Kingdom participated, reflecting the breadth and extent of the partnership.

Our SDP is a key pillar of the UK-Nigeria Strategic Partnership, and at this third bilateral SDP dialogue, the United Kingdom and Nigeria affirmed our commitment to deepen cooperation to tackle contemporary and evolving security threats particularly terrorism, conflict, cyber-crime (including fraud) and hybrid threats, while upholding human rights. New areas of cooperation were established on online cyber fraud, included in the cyber dialogue for the first time, as well as tackling hybrid state threats.

The United Kingdom and Nigeria agreed to continue our collaboration based on mutual accountability and delivery of commitments while working in a spirit of partnership.

The UK and Nigeria reaffirmed our commitment to deepening all aspects of our Strategic Partnership. This includes further strengthening the Migration, Justice, and Home Affairs Dialogue, through which our co-operation on border security, irregular migration, and important matters concerning law enforcement, justice, and countering shared criminal threats are covered.

2. Tackling hybrid and state-based threats

The United Kingdom and Nigeria acknowledged the evolving nature of global security threats and agreed to co-develop a Joint Framework utilising collective capabilities and focused on:

• combating cyber-attacks, disinformation, and malicious use of artificial intelligence
• disrupting transnational organised crime and financial fraud
• strengthening border security

3. Defence cooperation

The United Kingdom and Nigeria’s defence partnership continues to deepen in the support of peace and stability in the region. Building on the success of the second SDP Dialogue (February 2024) and reaffirming the United Kingdom’s long-term commitment to supporting Nigeria’s Armed Forces, the United Kingdom renewed its commitment to support Nigeria’s Armed Forces in the development of the Defence Special Operations Force, Strategic Communications capabilities, and joint operational planning. The United Kingdom committed to continuing support for Nigeria’s Joint Doctrine and Warfare Centre and strengthening Nigeria’s maritime domain awareness architecture, and to exploring how it might support the newly established Nigerian Navy Marines.

Both governments agreed to explore further capacity building and defence sales to counter Improvised Explosive Devices and Uncrewed Aerial Systems via doctrine, training, and capabilities. Both governments agreed to share lessons to keep pace with the advancement of enemy technological advancements.

Both governments agreed to maintain progress on our shared priorities to promote human security and human rights, gender mainstreaming, and preventing violence against women and girls. Together, the United Kingdom and Nigeria will scope possibilities for enhanced support to existing security and defence training and, where possible, partner on addressing broader security issues across Nigeria.

4. Counter-terrorism and violent extremism

The United Kingdom and Nigeria reaffirmed their commitment to work together to respond to the shared threat of terrorism. Both countries recognised the evolving threat from terrorism and agreed to continue to share assessments. The United Kingdom welcomed Nigeria’s efforts to delivering a whole of society and whole of government approach to counter-terrorism and offered strategic support as Nigeria updates its counter-terrorism strategy.

The United Kingdom welcomed progress made by the Government of Nigeria on crisis response and offered to continue strategic and operational command training via the Joint Counter-Terrorism Training and Advisory Team. The United Kingdom and Nigeria celebrated progress made through close collaboration on aviation security. The United Kingdom pledged continued security support at Lagos and Abuja airports to ensure progress is maintained. The United Kingdom committed to exploring further maritime and border security support.

The United Kingdom recognised the steps taken by Nigeria’s Office of the National Security Adviser to coordinate and prioritise counter-terrorism efforts through its National Counter-Terrorism Centre. Both countries agreed a support programme from the United Kingdom to the Government of Nigeria to enhance the National Counter-Terrorism Centre and other agencies’ capacity in counter-terrorism investigations, countering terrorist financing and strategic communications. Both countries agreed to the next steps for the roll-out of Nigeria’s Multi-Agency Kidnap Fusion Cell to the State level with support from the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency. The United Kingdom pledged to support Nigeria’s regional ambition on counter-terrorism, including establishing the National Counter-Terrorism Centre as a regional centre of expertise on counter-terrorism and countering violent extremism.

The United Kingdom and Nigeria committed to continue working together in support of non-kinetic solutions to counter-terrorism, including reaffirming our collaboration on a comprehensive and human rights compliant disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration process. The Government of Nigeria committed to advancing the harmonisation of disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration efforts in the country.

Recognising the importance of justice in effective responses to terrorism, the United Kingdom welcomed the commitment from Government of Nigeria to timely, effective, and human rights-compliant investigations and prosecutions of terrorism crimes. To support this, the United Kingdom pledged assistance to address the backlog of detainees held in military facilities in Nigeria. Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to deepening their longstanding counter-terrorism partnership in line with respect for human rights and the rule of law.

5. Police and civil-military cooperation

Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to fully implement the Police Act 2020, with the United Kingdom’s technical expertise supporting Nigeria’s development of new Police Regulations to enhance police service delivery. The United Kingdom and Nigeria acknowledged Nigeria’s growing investment in civil-military structures and coordination mechanisms that sought to integrate non-kinetic, inclusive people-centred approaches within Nigeria’s broader security responses. The United Kingdom and Nigerian reaffirmed their shared commitment to integrating civilian protection, civil-military cooperation and gender inclusion into Nigeria’s security strategies and operational responses.

Nigeria committed to transitioning the delivery of civil-military cooperation training to its Defence Department of Civil Military Relations and broadening the offer to include the Nigerian Police Force and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps. The United Kingdom committed to supporting the development of this capability. The United Kingdom and Nigeria agreed to co-host a Gender Symposium in Abuja in 2025 with all security actors and the UK undertook to support the implementation of Nigeria’s third National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.

6. Human rights

The United Kingdom and Nigeria reaffirmed their commitment to a partnership approach on human rights supported by continued dialogue and knowledge-sharing to drive sustainable institutional improvements.

The United Kingdom committed to provide Nigeria with capacity building on strategic communications and protest management, to improve human rights posture and awareness, as well as further engagement on the Conflict, Hunger and International Humanitarian Law Handbook. Nigeria committed to engage with the National Human Rights Commission and civil society on human rights.

The Government of Nigeria committed to prevent and respond to conflict-related human rights violations through its Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan. The United Kingdom committed to working with the Nigerian Armed Forces on capacity development to aid the effective implementation of the Action Plan and to sharing the experience of the British military.

The United Kingdom and Nigeria reaffirmed their commitment to uphold democratic principles and fundamental human rights. Both governments shared lessons learned in relation to handling protests and civil disturbances. They underscored the importance of human rights compliant protest policing protocols, monitoring and accountability mechanisms, and independent oversight. The United Kingdom committed to continuing to share best practice with Nigeria, particularly in the run up to Nigeria’s 2027 elections. The United Kingdom further offered the Nigerian Police Force the opportunity to observe training on public order safety before the end of 2025.

7. Cyber security

The second United Kingdom and Nigeria Cyber Dialogue focused on enhancing cooperation and capability for identifying, analysing, and mitigating cyber threats by exchanging views on policies and programmes. The United Kingdom and Nigeria agreed to share information on cyber threats enabling a more structured approach to countering malicious cyber activity, and to begin discussions on the Pall Mall Process. Both countries agreed to further cyber capacity and capability cooperation through the Africa Cyber Programme, with agreed objectives and an implementation plan.

Both sides committed to:

• strengthening cyber resilience
• protecting critical infrastructure
• promoting inclusive and secure digital ecosystems

The United Kingdom commended Nigeria on the progress made on cyber security measures since our first cyber dialogue and welcomed the advancement of cyber threat cooperation and operational partnerships.

8. Cyber fraud

The United Kingdom and Nigeria discussed how to progress commitments made in our bilateral Fraud Memorandum of Understanding, signed in May 2025. The United Kingdom agreed to support Nigeria to develop its fraud strategy, and the United Kingdom and Nigeria committed to enhancing their operational partnership to counter fraud through increased collaboration, and capacity building, as well as increasing the opportunities to engage with the private sector.

The United Kingdom and Nigeria agreed to operationalise their Cyber-Enabled Crime Action Plan to facilitate joint investigations and prosecutions. Both countries agreed the next steps to support their Joint Case Team including the scoping of an information sharing pilot. Both countries shared experiences of public-private partnerships in the fight against online cyber fraud and committed to joint work to enhance their impact.

The two nations agreed that the UK-Nigeria Fraud Partnership should aim to be a model framework for international collaboration.

9. Illicit and terrorist financing

The United Kingdom and Nigeria agreed a shared understanding of the threats emanating from illicit and terrorist financing and committed to work together to address them. Both countries recognised the link between the extractive industry and terrorist financing and agreed practical support from the UK to strengthen accountability in this sector. Both countries underlined the need for a multi-agency and regional response to combat terrorist financing and agreed to share learning. Both countries agreed ways to support Nigeria’s financial intelligence and enforcement capabilities, including deterrence and asset recovery on gold and cryptocurrencies, working with the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the National Counter-Terrorism Centre.

The United Kingdom commended Nigeria for the progress made in addressing recommendations from the Financial Action Task Force and welcomed the steps taken to remove Nigeria from the Grey List. The United Kingdom invited Nigeria to take part in an Illicit Finance Summit in London in 2026 to deepen our partnership in this critical area.

10. Regional security cooperation

The United Kingdom recognised Nigeria’s role as key stakeholder in ensuring the security and stability of West Africa and the Sahel. The United Kingdom congratulated Nigeria on the conclusion of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s tenure as Chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Both countries underscored the importance of Nigeria’s ongoing regional outreach to countries in the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). Both countries agreed to deepen their cooperation on security and stability in West Africa and the Sahel.

The United Kingdom and Nigeria exchanged assessments of the deteriorating security situation in the Sahel and impact on the region. The United Kingdom   pledged continued support to Nigeria, and other regional partners,’ to tackle insecurity, including the growing threat of terrorism and Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference. Both countries agreed to intensify cooperation on regional security and analytical exchange.

The United Kingdom and Nigeria reaffirmed their commitment to regional security cooperation via existing regional initiatives, notably the operationalisation of the Nigerian Counter Terrorism Centre as a regional centre of excellence. The United Kingdom pledged to continue to support regional security coordination via the Multi-National Joint Task Force’s Regional Intelligence Fusion Unit and the CT Academy in Cote d’Ivoire (AILCT). Nigeria committed to continue to share insights into conflict drivers in the region to help the United Kingdom tailor its support to Nigerian and other regional partners’ efforts.

11. Implementation and accountability

The United Kingdom and Nigeria reaffirmed their commitment to mutual accountability in delivering agreed priorities. The United Kingdom and Nigeria committed to collaborate to monitor progress against commitments made on an ongoing basis and prepare for the next Security and Defence Partnership Dialogue, to be held in Abuja in 2026. The next Dialogue will continue to contribute towards the wider implementation of the UK-Nigeria Strategic Partnership and continue to include cross-government participation from the United Kingdom and Nigeria.

NUHU RIBADU
National Security Adviser
Federal Government of Nigeria

JONATHAN POWELL
Prime Minister’s National Security Adviser
HM Government of the United Kingdom