UN Strengthens Partnership with Nigerian Military on Security Management, Others

Linus Aleke in Abuja

The United Nations has deepened its collaboration with the Nigerian military in emergency preparedness, disaster response, information sharing, and security management.

Both parties also pledged to expand joint training programmes and enhance coordination mechanisms aimed at improving operational safety and risk management.

The Chief Security Adviser for the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) in Nigeria, Mr Senyo Kufe, made this known when he led a team on a courtesy visit to the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force (JTF) North East, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), in Maiduguri.

According to a statement by the Media Information Officer of the JTF, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the visit formed part of Kufe’s ongoing nationwide familiarisation and operational assessment tour across Nigeria.

In his remarks, Kufe, who assumed office in August 2025, said the visit provided an opportunity to reinforce the bond between the UN and the Theatre Command.

He described the North East as the “engine room” of Nigeria’s security operations, noting that the region plays a pivotal role in both national and humanitarian security.

Kufe commended the Nigerian military for its professionalism and continued support to UNDSS activities, expressing appreciation for the Theatre Command’s assistance in security guidance and physical risk assessment.

He added that his visit to Maiduguri would provide him with first-hand information on field operations, stressing that “without the military’s support, UN staff cannot operate independently in the North East.”

The Area Security Adviser and Field Coordination Officer, North East, Mr Udit Mehta, expressed gratitude to the Theatre Commander, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, for his purposeful leadership, sustained collaboration, and unwavering support to the UNDSS.

He noted that the visit was aimed at strengthening existing partnerships and fostering greater cooperation to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel operating in the region.

In response, Major General Abubakar reaffirmed OPHK’s commitment to supporting the UNDSS in the discharge of its mandate.

He highlighted ongoing military operations and rescue missions in the North East, emphasising the importance of maintaining strong civil–military relations and continuous engagement with the UN and other international stakeholders.

Meanwhile, the Consul General of the Republic of Chad in Maiduguri, Mr Bisso Youssouf Mbodou Mbami, has called for deeper security and economic cooperation between Nigeria and Chad to tackle cross-border crime and insurgency in the Lake Chad Basin.

Bisso made the appeal when he led a delegation from the Chadian Consulate on a courtesy visit to the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force (JTF) North East, Operation Hadin Kai, in Maiduguri.

He noted that enhanced synergy between the armed forces of both countries remained vital to defeating Boko Haram and other criminal networks threatening regional peace and stability.

In a statement, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba said the Consul General commended the Nigerian military for its resilience and sacrifice in ongoing counterterrorism operations, describing the collaboration between Nigerian and Chadian forces as “a model of regional partnership.”