The European Union (EU) has reaffirmed its respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty, pledging continued partnership in peacebuilding, interfaith dialogue and human rights promotion.
EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Gautier Mignot, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos, while reacting to recent comments by U.S. President Donald Trump concerning Nigeria.
Mignot said the EU’s position was guided by its long-standing partnership with Nigeria, stressing that the bloc’s engagement was not influenced by the views or policies of other countries.
“Our position is one of solidarity with Nigeria — solidarity with victims of violence, with authorities working to protect citizens, and with the Nigerian people who overwhelmingly desire peaceful coexistence beyond ethnic and religious divides,” he said.
He reaffirmed that the EU and its member states fully respected Nigeria’s sovereignty and constitutional commitment to religious neutrality.
According to him, the EU remains committed to strengthening cooperation with Nigeria in peace, security and defence, while engaging all stakeholders, including civil society, traditional and religious leaders.
“We also support programmes on deradicalisation, demobilisation and reintegration of former members of non-state armed groups in the North-East,” Mignot added.
The envoy said the EU’s support for Nigeria was non-discriminatory, covering all victims of violence irrespective of background or motive.
He acknowledged that, although challenges persist in the areas of human rights and religious freedom, Nigeria’s legal framework provides a strong basis for the protection of fundamental rights.
“The situation is not perfect, as in any country, but there exists a constitutional basis for the protection of human rights. It is up to Nigerian authorities and society as a whole to uphold and strengthen this environment of peaceful coexistence,” he said.
Mignot further disclosed that a Nigeria–EU peace, security and defence dialogue would hold soon as part of efforts to deepen strategic cooperation between both sides.
He reiterated that the EU’s guiding principle remained to support Nigeria’s stability and prosperity, noting that the country’s future “lies firmly in the hands of Nigerians themselves.”
