The United Kingdom’s (UK’s) Minister for the Armed Forces, and member of parliament, Mr. James Heappey, has met with the Nigerian Minister of Defence, Alh. Muhammed Badaru Abubakar, the Minister of State for Defence, Mr. Bello Mohammed Bello Matawalle, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, and the service chiefs, to deepen defence cooperation between both countries and discuss the situation in Niger Republic.
The visiting Minister also met with the President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, where he reiterated the UK’s support for ECOWAS’ ongoing diplomatic efforts to ensure a peaceful return to democracy in Niger.
Senior Communications & Public Diplomacy Officer, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, British High Commission, Abuja, Ms. Atinuke Akande-Alegbe, in a statement noted that the UK Minister for the Armed Forces, Mr. James Heappey MP, said, he was delighted to return to Nigeria for the third time in three years.
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He said: “The UK supports ECOWAS in calling for the peaceful restoration of constitutional order and democracy in Niger and we’ll work with both ECOWAS and our partners across West Africa to support them in that aim.
“The UK and Nigeria enjoy a deep and long-standing security and defence relationship, underpinned by a shared desire to support regional and international peace and security.”
He noted that the UK support to the Nigerian Armed Forces is a focus of the relationship, helping to build Nigerian capabilities to tackle security threats and instability.
Nigeria, he said, is a key partner in promoting regional security and countering violent extremism in West Africa, including the Lake Chad Basin.
He added that the Nigerian Armed Forces are a leading contributor to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), showing the resolve of its constituent nations to deliver security in the region.
The UK, he said, recognises Nigeria’s diplomatic mediation efforts to peacefully restore democracy in Niger, through its membership of ECOWAS, and condemns in the strongest possible terms the ongoing coup against Niger’s elected leadership.
“We stand with ECOWAS in condemnation of the illegal detention of President Mohamed Bazoum, his family, and members of the government, as well as the unacceptable conditions under which they are being held, and call for their immediate release,” the statement concluded.
