The Russian government has expressed readiness to share its newly developed counter-terrorism strategies with Nigeria, pledging broader support in the country’s ongoing fight against insurgency.
This commitment was made on Monday by Lieutenant-General Andrei Averianov, a Russian envoy, during a courtesy visit to Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, in Abuja.
In a statement released after the meeting, Averianov disclosed that Russia had been involved in special operations across 39 countries, during which it developed advanced methods to combat terrorism.
Averianov highlighted that although Russia’s military history includes major operations such as the fight against Nazism 80 years ago, the global security landscape has since changed significantly, with emerging asymmetric threats like Al-Qaeda and Boko Haram.
He affirmed Russia’s interest in partnering with Nigeria to create a more secure environment for future generations.
“As brothers in arms, we are ready to assist, particularly with the provision of the full range of weapons required by the Armed Forces of Nigeria to prosecute its war on terror,” Averianov stated.
He also acknowledged Nigeria’s pivotal role as a regional power and noted that Russia had been closely monitoring and learning from Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts.
Welcoming the delegation on behalf of President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian military, General Musa appreciated Russia’s gesture and highlighted the shared challenges both countries face, especially in terms of personnel losses and the conduct of special military operations.
“For the Nigerian Army, navy and air force, there is the need to expand training in Special Operations and provision of requisite equipment, special boats, fast attack craft and amphibious training. Others include the need for assistance in the maintenance of Russian platforms and the provision of air surveillance, respectively,” Musa said.
The defence chief stressed the importance of maintaining Nigeria’s Russian-made military platforms, many of which are currently unserviceable. He requested Russia’s support in providing spare parts, deploying technical experts for on-site maintenance, or facilitating transport of equipment back to Russia for repairs.
Musa also appealed for enhanced intelligence sharing, noting that Russia’s long-standing military engagements, particularly in the Sahel region, had equipped it with valuable operational knowledge that could benefit Nigeria in its security operations.
