UK Supports Nigeria’s War Against Terrorism with N14bn as Abuja Summit Gathers Momentum

UK Supports Nigeria’s War Against Terrorism with N14bn as Abuja Summit Gathers Momentum

The United Kingdom said on Saturday that it has approved a grant of 40 million pounds (about N14 billion) to assist Nigeria in the fight against terrorism.

The Nation reports that the UK foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, made the disclosure as he arrived for the one day Regional Security Summit holding in Abuja, according to a statement released by the British High Commission.

“The UK continues to support Nigeria in tackling Boko Haram with nearly £40m of counter-terrorist and counter-extremism support over the next four years.

“The support includes the training of almost 1,000 Nigerian military personnel for deployment to the Northeast of Nigeria on counter-insurgency operations,” Hammond said.

He also commended President Muhammadu Buhari over his administration’s efforts in degrading the Boko Haram insurgency.

A number of high-ranking officials from different countries within the Lake Chad region are attending the summit which also has the special attendance of French President Francois Hollande.

President Buhari and President Hollande jointly addressed a press conference earlier in the day after a private meeting and before the summit commenced later at 2pm. Hollande reassured Nigeria and neighbouring countries of French support for counter-terrorism efforts.

Nigerian journalist, Chika Oduah, who attended the press conference, quoted Hollande as saying that an European Union (EU) funded project will help bring development to the Lake Chad region.

At the briefing, President Buhari noted that Nigeria’s military forces had achieved a lot in the war against terrorist group, Boko Haram which had been so degraded that communities in the north-east have gradually began to resume economic activities hitherto suspended as a result of the insurgency.

Buhari however admitted that it is a herculean task policing all of Nigeria’s borders, often described as porous and easily accessed by terrorist cells operating in the Lake Chad region.

The heads of state of Benin Republic, Cameroon, Chad, Gabon, Niger, Senegal, Togo and Equatorial Guinea are also participating at the regional security summit, according to the Nigerian presidency.

Present at #RSSAbuja are the Heads of State of France, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Gabon, Niger, Senegal, Togo, Equatorial Guinea & host Nigeria

— President Buhari (@NGRPresident) May 14, 2016