Nigeria and the United States have reaffirmed their commitment to stronger security and defence cooperation following high-level meetings between Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and top American officials in Washington DC.
During a three-day working visit to the United States, Ribadu held strategic talks with US Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and other senior officials on counterterrorism, intelligence sharing, regional security, and democratic governance.
According to a statement issued by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, Ribadu conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to deepening bilateral relations and sustaining collaboration in tackling emerging security threats across West Africa and the Sahel region.
The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in counterterrorism operations, defence capacity building, border security, cyber threats, military collaboration, and economic resilience under the Nigeria-US Joint Working Group framework.
Ribadu also highlighted Nigeria’s leading role in regional peacekeeping and counterterrorism efforts, especially within the Lake Chad Basin and West Africa, while outlining the Tinubu administration’s security strategy combining military operations with community engagement, deradicalisation, and economic development initiatives.
US officials reportedly commended Nigeria’s leadership role in Africa and described the country as a key strategic partner in promoting regional peace and stability.
Both countries concluded the engagements with renewed commitments to sustained diplomatic dialogue, intelligence cooperation, and enhanced defence partnerships.
