Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Penny Mordaunt and Richard Fuller

Monday 18th January 2016 Commons Chamber

[Richard Fuller (Bedford) (Con)]

11. What plans he has to increase training support to the Nigerian armed forces to help to tackle Boko Haram.

[The Minister for the Armed Forces (Penny Mordaunt)]

We are fully committed to supporting Nigeria in its efforts to defeat Boko Haram. During his visit in December, the Secretary of State committed to a major increase in UK support to the Nigerian armed forces with the intent of more than doubling the number of British personnel deploying on training tasks in the coming year.

[Richard Fuller]

The strategic ties between the United Kingdom and Nigeria are of the first importance to our country. Will the Minister provide more details of the UK troop deployments she envisages over the next 12 months to assist Nigeria in combating terrorism?

[Penny Mordaunt]

We expect up to 300 military personnel to provide assistance over the forthcoming year, including 30 RAF personnel who have been deployed this month to deliver force protection and training to the Nigerian air force, and more than 35 personnel from the 2nd Battalion the Royal Anglian Regiment who will deploy later this month to train Nigerian personnel specifically to combat Boko Haram.