The Nigerian government and the United States have agreed on new areas of collaboration aimed at tackling Nigeria’s deteriorating security challenges, according to the Presidency.
A key part of the agreement is the immediate rollout of a non-binding cooperation framework and the creation of a Joint Working Group that will coordinate and unify both countries’ efforts in the agreed areas of security support.
In a statement released by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the US pledged to provide additional assistance, including humanitarian support for affected communities in the Middle Belt and technical help to improve early-warning systems that can detect threats before they escalate.
The statement noted that last week’s engagements between a high-level Nigerian delegation and top US officials would help deepen security cooperation and open new opportunities to protect Nigerian citizens.
The delegation, led by National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, met with senior figures from the US Congress, the State Department, the National Security Council, the White House Faith Office, and the Department of Defense.
According to the Presidency, the Nigerian team strongly dismissed allegations of genocide in the country, explaining that violence affects people from all religious and ethnic groups. They warned that mislabeling the crisis could worsen tensions and distort the true situation.
Following the meetings, the US government expressed readiness to broaden security cooperation with Nigeria. This includes improved intelligence sharing, faster processing of defence equipment requests, and possible provision of excess defence hardware—depending on availability—to help Nigeria’s fight against terrorists and violent extremist groups.
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Both countries also reaffirmed their commitment to launching the cooperation framework immediately and activating a Joint Working Group to ensure smooth coordination.
Nigeria, in turn, assured the US of its commitment to strengthening civilian protection and improving responses to threats. The Presidency added that the discussions helped correct misunderstandings about the security situation, strengthened trust between both nations, and advanced a joint plan to better protect vulnerable communities, especially in the Middle Belt.
The delegation included Attorney General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); Chief of Defence Staff General Olufemi Oluyede; Chief of Defence Intelligence Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Parker Undiandeye; Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun; Ambassador Ibrahim Babani; and Ms. Idayat Hassan, Special Adviser to the NSA.
