The European Union has announced a fresh €70 million support package for Nigeria, with €45 million earmarked for security and peacebuilding initiatives and €25 million allocated to agricultural development, as both parties reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation.
The pledge was made on Thursday during a meeting between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja.
According to a statement by the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the meeting reviewed progress made since the Second Nigeria-EU Ministerial Dialogue held in March 2026 and explored new areas of collaboration spanning security, trade, investment, agriculture, innovation, migration and regional stability.
Mignot disclosed that the EU was finalising approval of a €20 million package under the European Peace Facility to strengthen Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts through the provision of counter-drone and counter-improvised explosive device equipment.
He added that the bloc was also preparing an additional €25 million peace and stabilisation programme for Nigeria’s North-West to support ongoing peacebuilding efforts in the region.
The ambassador further announced plans for a €25 million flagship agricultural programme focused on strengthening Nigeria’s dairy and cocoa value chains.
Mignot also revealed that consultations were at an advanced stage with the Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission to facilitate President Bola Tinubu’s proposed official visit to Brussels, with October 2026 identified as the most likely period.
According to him, the visit would provide an opportunity to consolidate the strategic partnership between Nigeria and the EU while unveiling new areas of cooperation.
He also highlighted ongoing negotiations on the Nigeria-European Union Readmission Agreement and the Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation Agreement, noting that the latter would expand research collaboration and create more opportunities for Nigerian institutions under the Horizon Europe Research Programme.
The ambassador further pointed to the success of the Nigeria-EU Business Forum held in Lagos and disclosed that the European Investment Bank and other European financial institutions were increasing investments in small and medium-scale enterprises, particularly businesses owned by women and young entrepreneurs.
Responding, Odumegwu-Ojukwu welcomed the growing momentum in Nigeria-EU relations and expressed appreciation for the bloc’s continued support through the Global Gateway Initiative, the European Peace Facility and other development programmes.
She reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to expanding cooperation in trade, investment, renewable energy, agriculture, infrastructure, innovation, migration, peace and security.
The minister also commended the EU for its sustained support for Nigeria’s security architecture, particularly assistance to the Multinational Joint Task Force and regional peacebuilding initiatives.
She welcomed the proposed North-West Stabilisation Programme and called for stronger international collaboration to address the country’s evolving security challenges.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu described Tinubu’s proposed visit to Brussels as an opportunity to deepen economic ties and attract greater investment, noting that the European Union remains one of Nigeria’s largest trading and development partners.
On security, she said Nigeria’s challenges were driven by terrorism, banditry, communal conflicts, resource competition and criminality, rather than religious persecution alone.
The meeting also discussed democratic governance, migration, regional security, developments within ECOWAS and the Alliance of Sahel States, as well as broader global issues.
Mignot disclosed that the European Union plans to deploy an Electoral Expert Mission to Nigeria ahead of the country’s forthcoming elections to provide technical support for electoral reforms and the implementation of previous recommendations.
Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the Nigeria-European Union Strategic Partnership through sustained political engagement, expanded economic cooperation, enhanced security collaboration and closer coordination on regional and international issues. They also expressed confidence that President Tinubu’s proposed visit to Brussels would further deepen relations between Nigeria and the European Union.
