Nigeria and the United States have moved to deepen security cooperation as senior officials from both countries held talks focused on counterterrorism, defence collaboration, and regional stability.
This is as Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, met top U.S. government officials during a three-day working visit to Washington from May 4 to 6, including Vice President J. D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also serves as Acting National Security Adviser.
He also held discussions with Undersecretary for Political Affairs Allison Hooker and Assistant Secretary of War, Daniel Zimmerim.
According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Ribadu conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and security partnerships.
The discussions centred on emerging threats in West Africa and the Sahel, including terrorism, violent extremism, transnational organised crime, and cyber threats.
Both sides also reviewed ongoing cooperation in intelligence sharing, defence, economic resilience, and democratic governance.
The statement added that Nigeria reiterated its frontline role in counterterrorism efforts across the Lake Chad Basin and West Africa.
During meetings at the U.S. State Department, Ribadu expressed appreciation for continued American support in intelligence cooperation, defence capacity building, and counterterrorism operations.
He also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the Nigeria–U.S. Joint Working Group aimed at strengthening structured cooperation on strategic security issues.
Both countries reviewed progress under the framework and discussed practical steps to enhance implementation in areas including intelligence sharing, military cooperation, border security, and institutional capacity development.
Ribadu also outlined Nigeria’s security strategy, which combines military operations with non-kinetic approaches such as community engagement, economic empowerment, deradicalisation programmes, and regional partnerships.
The U.S. officials reportedly commended Nigeria’s role in promoting peace and security in the region and reaffirmed its importance as a key strategic partner in Africa.
Both sides concluded the engagements with an agreement to sustain diplomatic dialogue and deepen defence cooperation under the Joint Working Group framework.
