EU Pledges €300 Million to Support Nigeria’s Counter-Terrorism Efforts​

EU Pledges €300 Million to Bolster Nigeria’s Fight Against Terrorism

In a significant move to combat terrorism, the European Union (EU) has committed €300 million to support Nigeria’s efforts in preventing and countering violent extremism, particularly in the North-East and North-West regions. This announcement was made by the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gaulter Mignot, during a workshop aimed at reviewing Nigeria’s Policy Framework and National Action Plan on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE).​

The workshop, organized under the Strengthening Resilience to Violent Extremism (STRIVE) Global Programme, is funded by the EU and implemented by Hedayah, an international center dedicated to countering violent extremism. Ambassador Mignot emphasized the strong partnership between the EU and Nigeria, noting that both are members of the Global Counter Terrorism Forum (GCTF). He highlighted that collaboration with GCTF-affiliated organizations like Hedayah underscores the importance of coordinated efforts to tackle violent extremism and its root causes.​

Ambassador Mignot pointed out that the 15-year conflict in Nigeria’s North-East has had devastating effects on the Lake Chad Basin region, resulting in massive loss of lives, displacement of populations, and the destruction of socio-economic systems. He also noted the emergence of terrorist groups in other parts of the country, including the North-West, as a pressing concern. While acknowledging the Nigerian government’s progress in addressing terrorism, he stressed the need for continued investment and the review of existing strategies to effectively confront such a complex phenomenon.​

The €300 million grant from the EU encompasses more than just counter-terrorism measures. It includes interventions in quality education, particularly for girls and out-of-school children, adolescent health, and economic empowerment programs aimed at supporting internally displaced persons and vulnerable communities affected by insecurity and climate change. In the Lake Chad Basin, the EU is backing programs that promote economic recovery, resilience, and social cohesion, as well as initiatives targeting pastoral economic development and transboundary water management to reinforce regional stability.​

Specifically, the EU will inject €20 million into the demilitarization, demobilization, and reintegration (DDRR) of former Boko Haram combatants through both federal and state-led processes in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States. Additionally, two new regional programs focused on PCVE will be launched: RAMPARTS, with a €7.5 million envelope to support the reintegration of ex-Boko Haram members in the North-East, and SECSTA, which will address multidimensional security and stabilization in the North-West and Central Africa, though its funding details are yet to be finalized.​

Ambassador Mignot also reaffirmed the EU’s ongoing support to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) through the European Peace Facility, enhancing its operational effectiveness in the fight against Boko Haram in partnership with the African Union. He commended the Office of the National Security Adviser and the National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC) for their leadership in steering Nigeria’s counter-terrorism and PCVE efforts, and praised Hedayah for its pivotal role in the workshop and its continued collaboration with both the EU and Nigerian government.​

Expressing optimism about the workshop’s outcomes, Ambassador Mignot expressed confidence that it would lead to innovative strategies and help assess the progress of the national PCVE action plan, incorporating the provisions of Nigeria’s Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act of 2022. He called for sustained collaboration, reaffirming the EU’s unwavering commitment to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Nigeria.​