UK and Nigeria start fourth security dialogue

The United Kingdom and Nigeria have opened a new round of high-level security talks in Abuja, aiming to deepen cooperation against terrorism financing, cyber threats, disinformation, and other transnational challenges. The Fourth UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership Dialogue, known as SDP4, began on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at the Office of the National Security Adviser.

The dialogue brought together senior officials including Nigeria's National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, his British counterpart, Jonathan Powell, Nigeria's Chief of Defence Staff, service chiefs, and other defence and diplomatic personnel from both nations.

In opening remarks, Ribadu stated the partnership has evolved into a broad strategic framework covering counterterrorism, cybersecurity, regional stability, crisis response, maritime security, and intelligence cooperation. He emphasized that the global security environment is increasingly complex, with traditional threats evolving alongside new, technology-driven challenges. He stressed that no nation can address threats like terrorism, cybercrime, organized crime, and illicit financial flows alone, and that effective responses require coordinated...