Nigeria’s presidency has revealed that Nigeria and United States (US) have agreed on new steps to strengthen security collaboration.
Gatekeepers News reports that this includes forming a Joint Working Group that will coordinate counterterrorism efforts between both countries.
The development comes after a week of high-level meetings in Washington, DC, where National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu led a Nigerian delegation to engage senior officials across the US Congress, State Department, National Security Council, Department of War and the White House Faith Office.
According to a statement issued on Monday by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser on information and strategy to the president, American officials signalled they are prepared to broaden security support for Nigeria.
The statement reads, “Following these engagements, the United States Government affirmed its readiness to deepen security cooperation with Nigeria.”
“This includes enhanced intelligence support, expedited processing of defence equipment requests, and the potential provision of excess defence articles—subject to availability—to reinforce ongoing operations against terrorists and violent extremist groups.”
The US also indicated willingness to extend humanitarian assistance to violence-affected communities in the Middle Belt and provide technical backing for early-warning systems.
Both governments agreed to immediately operationalise a non-binding cooperation framework and to establish a Joint Working Group that will coordinate the areas of collaboration.
The Nigerian delegation reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening civilian protection measures.
Onanuga noted that the meeting also allowed Nigeria to address misconceptions surrounding the country’s security landscape.
The delegation rejected claims of genocide, stressing that violence affects various communities across religious and ethnic lines and cautioned that misrepresenting the situation could heighten divisions.
Federal government reiterated that it is taking firm and coordinated steps to safeguard citizens. The statement added, “The Federal Government restates its awareness of heightened sensitivities regarding religious freedom and security, and urges citizens to remain assured that firm, urgent, and coordinated steps are being taken to secure the nation.”
Delegation members included Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi; Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun; Chief of Defence Staff Olufemi Oloyede; Chief of Defence Intelligence Emmanuel Parker Undiandeye; Special Adviser to the NSA Idayat Hassan; and Ibrahim Babani, director of foreign relations at the NSA’s office.
