By our Reporter
Nigeria and the United States have strengthened bilateral cooperation on security, counterterrorism, regional stability, and strategic partnership following a series of high-level meetings between Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and top U.S. officials in Washington.
Ribadu undertook a three-day working visit to the United States from May 4 to May 6, during which he conveyed the commitment of President Bola Tinubu to sustaining Nigeria’s longstanding strategic relationship with the U.S.
During the visit, the NSA met with U.S. Vice President J. D. Vance, Acting National Security Adviser and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Undersecretary for Political Affairs Allison Hooker, and Assistant Secretary of War Daniel Zimmerim.
The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in counterterrorism, defence collaboration, intelligence sharing, regional security, economic resilience, and democratic governance.
Ribadu stressed the need for sustained international cooperation in tackling emerging security challenges across West Africa and the Sahel, including terrorism, violent extremism, transnational organised crime, and cyber threats.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to promoting peace, stability, democratic governance, and economic development across Africa, while highlighting the country’s frontline role in counterterrorism operations within the Lake Chad Basin and West Africa.
The meetings also reviewed the evolving security situation in the Sahel and the need for stronger regional cooperation and institutional capacity to respond to complex security threats.
At the U.S. Department of State, Ribadu expressed Nigeria’s appreciation for continued American support in areas such as security assistance, intelligence collaboration, defence capacity building, humanitarian interventions, and counterterrorism operations.
He also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to implementing the roadmap under the Nigeria-U.S. Joint Working Group framework established to strengthen structured bilateral cooperation on security and strategic issues.
Both sides reviewed progress under the framework and discussed measures to improve intelligence sharing, military cooperation, border security, strategic communications, and capacity development for Nigerian security institutions.
Ribadu further briefed U.S. officials on ongoing reforms and operational measures by the Nigerian government to improve national security and stabilise affected communities through both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches, including community engagement, economic development, deradicalisation programmes, and regional partnerships.
U.S. officials commended Nigeria’s leadership role in promoting regional peace and security and described the country as a strategic partner of the United States in Africa.
Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to democratic values, regional stability, economic cooperation, and sustainable peace and security across West Africa and the Sahel.
The meetings ended with both sides pledging to deepen bilateral engagement through sustained diplomatic dialogue, enhanced defence cooperation, and effective implementation of initiatives under the Joint Working Group framework.
