Nigeria and the United States have moved to strengthen security cooperation following a series of high-level engagements in Washington, D.C., between senior Nigerian government officials and key US institutions.
The Nigerian delegation—led by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu—held meetings last week with top officials across the US Congress, the White House Faith Office, the State Department, the National Security Council, and the Department of War. The discussions centred on deepening bilateral security ties and countering violent extremism across Nigeria.
During the meetings, the Nigerian officials firmly refuted allegations of genocide in the country, stressing that violent attacks affect citizens across all religious and ethnic groups. The delegation maintained that mischaracterising the crisis could worsen national divisions and distort the complex realities that drive insecurity.
Following these engagements, the US Government reaffirmed its readiness to broaden security collaboration with Nigeria. Areas of cooperation include enhanced intelligence sharing, faster processing of defence equipment requests, and potential access to excess defence articles—subject to availability—to support counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations.
The United States also signalled willingness to provide additional humanitarian assistance to vulnerable communities, particularly in the Middle Belt, and to offer technical support aimed at strengthening early-warning and response systems for conflict prevention.
Both countries agreed to immediately activate a non-binding cooperation framework and to establish a Joint Working Group to coordinate efforts and ensure timely implementation of the agreed areas of partnership.
For its part, the Nigerian delegation reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to improving civilian protection and scaling up measures to safeguard communities affected by insecurity.
According to the presidency, the engagements helped dispel widespread misconceptions about Nigeria’s security landscape and fostered a more constructive and solution-focused partnership with the United States. Officials say the dialogue has strengthened mutual trust and advanced a more coordinated approach to protecting vulnerable populations.
The Federal Government also assured Nigerians that it remains mindful of sensitivities around religious freedom, human rights, and security, emphasising that urgent and coordinated steps are being taken to secure the nation.
The delegation included the Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi; Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede; Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Parker Undiandeye; Special Adviser to the NSA, Ms. Idayat Hassan; and Director of Foreign Relations at the Office of the NSA, Ambassador Ibrahim Babani.
The statement was signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
