Dare Babalola
Nigeria and the United States have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation on security, counterterrorism, regional stability and strategic partnership.
The renewed commitment followed a high-level visit by National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to Washington.
Ribadu, who undertook a three-day working visit to the United States from May 4 to May 6, held talks with top U.S. officials, including 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.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the engagements were aimed at reviewing the current state of Nigeria-U.S. relations and advancing cooperation in defence, intelligence sharing, economic resilience and democratic governance.
“The meetings provided an opportunity for both sides to review the current state of Nigeria–United States relations and to further strengthen ongoing collaboration in counterterrorism, defence cooperation, intelligence sharing, regional security, economic resilience, and democratic governance,” the statement said.
During the meetings, Ribadu conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to sustaining Nigeria’s longstanding strategic relationship with the United States and emphasised the need for continued collaboration in tackling emerging security threats across West Africa and the Sahel.
He highlighted key concerns such as terrorism, violent extremism, transnational organised crime and cyber threats, stressing that Nigeria remained committed to working with global partners to promote peace, stability and economic development across Africa.
The NSA also reiterated Nigeria’s position as a frontline state in counterterrorism efforts within the Lake Chad Basin and the wider West African region, while underscoring the need for stronger regional coordination and enhanced institutional capacity to combat asymmetric threats.
At a separate meeting with Hooker at the U.S. Department of State, Ribadu expressed appreciation for America’s continued support to Nigeria, particularly in the areas of security assistance, intelligence collaboration, defence capacity building, humanitarian intervention and counterterrorism operations.
He also reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to implement agreements reached under the Nigeria-U.S. Joint Working Group, a framework designed to promote structured bilateral cooperation on strategic and security matters.
Both countries reviewed progress made under the Joint Working Group and discussed measures to improve implementation of existing initiatives, including intelligence sharing, border security, strategic communications, military cooperation and capacity development for Nigerian security institutions.
Ribadu further briefed U.S. officials on reforms being carried out by the Federal Government to strengthen national security, stabilise troubled communities and address the root causes of insecurity.
He explained that the Tinubu administration was adopting a whole-of-government strategy that combines military operations with non-kinetic approaches such as community engagement, economic empowerment, deradicalisation programmes and regional partnerships.
U.S. officials reportedly commended Nigeria’s leadership role in promoting peace and security in the region and described the country as an important strategic partner of the United States in Africa.
The meetings ended with both sides reaffirming their shared commitment to democratic values, regional stability, economic cooperation and sustainable peace across West Africa and the Sahel, while expressing optimism about the future of the partnership.
