From Victor Osula, Abuja
Nigeria’s security cooperation with the United States has received a significant boost following a series of high-level engagements between a delegation led by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and senior US government officials in Washington, DC.
The talks, held last week across multiple US institutions, focused on deepening strategic ties, addressing misconceptions about Nigeria’s security challenges, and securing stronger support for ongoing counterterrorism and stabilisation efforts.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, on Monday, said the NSA and his team met with senior officials from the US Congress, the White House Faith Office, the State Department, the National Security Council, and the US Department of Defense.
The week-long engagements were described as “productive and forward-looking.”
During the meetings, the Nigerian delegation firmly dismissed allegations of genocide, stressing that insecurity in affected regions is neither religious nor ethnic in nature.
They maintained that mischaracterisations distort realities on the ground and risk undermining peacebuilding efforts by fuelling unnecessary division.
Officials said the clarification helped US partners gain a more accurate understanding of the situation, ensuring that future policy decisions would be based on verified facts rather than misleading narratives.
Following the discussions, the US Government reaffirmed its commitment to expanding security cooperation with Nigeria.
Priority areas include enhanced intelligence-sharing, expedited processing of defence equipment requests, and possible access to excess defence articles—subject to availability—to bolster counterterrorism operations.
Washington also expressed readiness to increase humanitarian assistance to vulnerable communities, particularly in the Middle Belt, and to provide technical support to strengthen early-warning and conflict-prevention systems.
Both countries agreed to immediately activate a non-binding cooperation framework covering priority security concerns and to establish a Joint Working Group to harmonise actions and monitor implementation.
The Nigerian delegation reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting civilians, improving accountability within security operations, and addressing concerns relating to religious freedom and national stability.
Members of the delegation included the Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi; 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, Director of Foreign Relations at the Office of the NSA; and Ms. Idayat Hassan, Special Adviser to the NSA.
