A defence cooperation MOU was confirmed by the presidential spokesman, but neither Abuja nor London has disclosed its contents.
Nigeria and the United Kingdom signed a defence cooperation Memorandum of Understanding during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to London last week, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga confirmed. No details have been made public by either government.
During the March 16 to 19 visit, both countries agreed to cooperate on trade, infrastructure, education, agriculture, and financial services. The UK published documents on all agreements except the defence MOU.
The search of public records—including GOV. The UK, the Ministry of Defence, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and the Department for Business and Trade—found no publications on the defence agreement.
Security is a pillar of the UK-Nigeria Strategic Partnership, reaffirmed when President Tinubu met Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Downing Street. The March 19 defence MOU falls under this framework, but no officials have described its scope, including whether it covers training, equipment, intelligence, or operations.
Governments sometimes keep defence MOUs secret for sensitivity. Neither Nigeria nor the UK has explained whether that is the reason for non-disclosure.
The 1999 Constitution gives the executive authority over foreign affairs and defence, while requiring National Assembly approval for international agreements that create binding obligations. Without knowing the contents of the defence MOU, it is unclear if this requirement applies. There is no public evidence that the National Assembly or its committees were briefed before or after signing.
The agreement comes amid significant security pressure on the Nigerian state, with ongoing military engagements in the northeast, the northwest, and parts of the south. The United Kingdom has also been expanding its security engagement across West Africa in recent years, as French influence in the Sahel has receded following a series of coups in the region.
No one has disclosed the defence MOU’s scope or legal status. The presidency, the National Security Adviser, and the Ministry of Defence remain silent about the agreement.
