The United Kingdom Government has praised the Nigerian Army for its instrumental role in promoting peace and stability across West Africa and the broader continent. This commendation came from the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff of the United Kingdom, Lt. Gen. Roly Walker, during his visit to the Army Headquarters in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, on Tuesday.
In a statement released by the Director of Army Public Relations, Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, Lt. Gen. Walker lauded the Nigerian Army for its significant contributions to maintaining peace and stability in Africa, particularly within the West African Subregion. He highlighted the Army’s steadfast commitment to peacekeeping missions, emphasizing its pivotal role in addressing regional security challenges.
General Walker also expressed the United Kingdom’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with the Nigerian Army, reaffirming continued support for initiatives aimed at enhancing regional security and stability. He specifically mentioned the upcoming security and defense dialogue between the UK and Nigeria as a platform for further collaboration.
In response, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, underscored the importance of the cordial working relationship between the Nigerian military and the British Military Advisory and Training Team (BMATT). He acknowledged BMATT’s assistance in capacity building, particularly in the fight against insurgency and terrorism.
Lt. Gen. Lagbaja highlighted the tangible impact of BMATT’s support, noting that it has significantly enhanced the Nigerian Army’s effectiveness in combating terrorism both domestically and across the West African region. He emphasized that the collaboration has led to increased involvement of Nigerian soldiers in peacekeeping operations, with more than 640 soldiers deployed to African nations between 2021 and 2022 alone.
- Tags: Nigerian army, peacekeeping, uk army, UN
