23 Mar Nigeria and UK sign MoU to strengthen national security

A British defence technology company has signed a major agreement with Nigeria to deliver what is expected to become one of Africa’s largest national security programmes, valued at more than USD $190 million.

The memorandum of understanding was signed in London on 19 March 2026 between MARSS, the Nigerian Ministry of Defence, representatives of the UK Ministry of Defence and local partners, which sets out plans for a multi-year programme to establish Nigeria’s first fully integrated national defence architecture.

This MoU is aimed at strengthening the country’s response to terrorism and organised insurgency. Under the agreement, MARSS will deploy its AI-powered NiDAR command, control, communications, computers and intelligence (C4I) system, alongside a comprehensive package covering training, spare parts and long-term support.

A new national command centre will also be built, incorporating a Centre of Excellence designed to provide continuous training for Nigerian personnel and maintain operational readiness.

Nigeria and the wider West African region have faced increasing asymmetric threats in recent years, including terrorism and insurgent activity.

The programme is intended to enhance sovereign defence capability by integrating multiple domains into a unified system, supporting national security agencies in counter-terrorism operations.

“The UK and Nigeria share a deep, longstanding security and defence relationship. Signing this memorandum of understanding is a great example of our continued and strengthening partnership, with a British company able to deliver world leading, combat proven UK technology and defensive capabilities to support Nigeria’s fight against terrorism,” said Minister for Defence at the House of Lords, Lord Coaker.

The project represents one of the first large-scale deployments of AI-enabled C4I technology on a national level in Africa. It will include a fleet of expeditionary platforms equipped with sensors and effectors connected through MARSS’ NiDAR system, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles integrated via its Autonomous Mission Management technology.

In addition, new regional command centres and a national headquarters will be established, all networked to receive real-time data from both legacy systems and newly deployed assets. This information will be fused into a single operational picture using NiDAR’s Nation Shield and Edge to Mission Command capabilities, providing coordinated air and land surveillance.

Rob Balloch, Chief Growth Officer at MARSS, said: “By integrating expeditionary vehicles, regional centres, and a new national headquarters into a single C4I tactical picture, NiDAR will provide a multi-dimensional layered defence capability that is both scalable and future-proofed in the fight against terrorism.”

The programme will also utilise recent upgrades to the NiDAR platform, including Nation Shield, which enables personnel across different operational environments to access the same real-time intelligence picture, improving decision-making at all levels.

Its Autonomous Mission Management system allows operators to deploy uncrewed assets across air, land and sea, transforming them into intelligent platforms within a broader defence network.

“The support of the UK Government and our local and international partners has been a major factor in bringing this project together,” Balloch added. “It is a huge endorsement of the UK’s position as an AI defence technology leader, with the ability to deliver this critical capability at scale with confidence.”