British High Commissioner Advocates Joint Military and Civilian Approach to Address Insecurity

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Richard Montgomery, has called for a combined military and civilian effort to address the complex security challenges facing Nigeria and the global community. Montgomery made the statement during the opening of a two-day Security and Justice Symposium in Abuja, organized by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in collaboration with the British High Commission. He praised the Nigerian military for its efforts in fostering civil-military collaboration and for employing both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies in the fight against terrorism and insurgency. At the core of these efforts, Montgomery emphasized the importance of upholding the rule of law, human rights, and international humanitarian law in conflict zones. He also stressed the need for appropriate legal frameworks to address criminal violence and protracted conflicts. “We must examine the different legal principles and frameworks that apply to criminal violence and violent conflicts, and how we manage these in conflict zones,” Montgomery stated. He noted that earlier this year, a roundtable discussion between Nigerian military officers and UK officials had led to constructive debates on adapting legal frameworks to different security scenarios. Highlighting the strong and collaborative relationship between the UK and Nigeria, Montgomery expressed his appreciation for the ongoing dialogue, hoping that the symposium would yield actionable insights and further strengthen bilateral cooperation in addressing security challenges.