The European Union has announced fresh support packages worth €70 million for Nigeria, comprising €45 million for security and peacebuilding initiatives and €25 million for agriculture development.
This funding aims to strengthen the strategic partnership between both parties.
The announcement came during a meeting on Thursday, July 23, 2026, between Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja.
According to a statement from the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, Ambassador Mignot revealed that the EU is finalising a €20 million package under the European Peace Facility.
This will provide counter-drone and counter-improvised explosive device equipment to bolster Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts.
He added that an additional €25 million peace and stabilisation programme targeting Nigeria’s North-West region is being prepared, alongside other peacebuilding initiatives.
For agriculture, preparations are advanced for a €25 million flagship programme focused on Nigeria’s dairy and cocoa value chains.
The meeting reviewed progress since the Second Nigeria-EU Ministerial Dialogue held in March 2026 and explored new areas of cooperation in security, trade, investment, agriculture, innovation, migration, and regional stability.
Mignot also noted ongoing consultations to facilitate President Bola Tinubu’s proposed official visit to Brussels, potentially in October 2026.
This visit is expected to further consolidate ties and unveil new cooperation areas. Other discussions covered negotiations on a Readmission Agreement and a Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation Agreement, which would boost research collaboration for Nigerian institutions.
In response, Minister Odumegwu-Ojukwu welcomed the positive momentum in Nigeria-EU relations and appreciated the EU’s support through programmes like the Global Gateway Initiative and the European Peace Facility.
She reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deeper collaboration in trade, renewable energy, agriculture, infrastructure, and security.
The minister highlighted the EU’s balanced understanding of Nigeria’s complex security challenges which stem from terrorism, banditry, communal conflicts, resource competition, and criminality and stressed the need for continued international support, particularly for the North-West Stabilisation Programme.
Both sides expressed optimism that President Tinubu’s potential visit to Brussels would mark a significant milestone in advancing the Nigeria-EU Strategic Partnership.
Additional topics included democratic governance, migration, ECOWAS developments, and the planned deployment of an EU Electoral Expert Mission to support Nigeria’s upcoming elections.
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