EU to supply Nigeria with counter-drone capabilities in EUR 20 million defence package
The European Union is set to provide Nigeria with a EUR 20 million defence support package that includes counter-drone systems, according to Nigerian media. The defence minister met EU representatives on 13 November.
The European Union (EU) will give Nigeria, a West African country, counter-uncrewed aircraft system (C-UAS) capabilities as part of a EUR 20 million defence support package, industry outlet Unmanned Airspace reports, citing several Nigerian media sources. The package is meant to strengthen the operational capabilities of Nigeria's Armed Forces, especially in ongoing counterterrorism operations in the Lake Chad Basin.
What the package covers
Alongside the counter-drone capabilities, the support includes night vision equipment, systems to counter improvised explosive devices and other military supplies.
Funding framework
According to the newspaper Business Day, the equipment will be delivered through the European Peace Facility, an EU funding instrument. The outlet describes it as the EU's first bilateral defence support package for Nigeria.
Nigeria's Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, met on 13 November with a delegation from the European External Action Service, the EU's diplomatic service, led by Claire Gaudin. The sources do not give further details of the meeting or say when the equipment might be delivered.
