Nigeria Is Struggling, British High Commissioner Kicks Over Insecurity

Posted by Nwa Diokpa Europe, Featured, Latest Headlines Wednesday, March 31st, 2021

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – British high commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, has stated her worry over the increased insecurity situation in the country.

The high commissioner, during an interaction with journalists on the sidelines of a reception held to welcome home the 2019/2020 UK Chevening scholarship beneficiaries, stated that the UK government is keen on helping Nigeria win its fight against insecurity.

According to her, Laing, UK had been assisting the Nigerian army in the areas of training, campaign planning, and how to counter IEDs.

She said, “We are extremely concerned about the deteriorating security situation.

“I mean, Nigeria is facing a lot of problems everywhere – in the northeast, terrorism; in the northwest, banditry, kidnapping; in the middle belt, the farmers-herders conflict; in the south, the Niger Delta conflict everywhere.

“And the secession movements in the south-east. So, Nigeria is really struggling.

“Well, we are here to support and help. We have the military team here, who came here after the Chibok girls were kidnapped actually. We are still here, training the Nigerian military, helping them to do campaign planning, how to counter IEDs.”

Laing stated that the recent visit of the UK minister of armed forces indicates the commitment of the UK government.

“So, we are here for a long time. This is a Nigerian partnership. Your insecurity becomes our insecurity if we don’t help you tackle it. So, we are here and we are trying to do our best to support you,” she said.

Commending the Chevening programme, Lang stated that it was an initiative by the UK government targeted at preparing future leaders who would not only excel in academic qualifications but also give back to their respective countries.

She stated that Nigeria already had 1,300 Chevening alumni “currently occupying important positions in power” and thereby providing the UK with both “access and influence”.