Nigeria and the United States have moved to strengthen bilateral cooperation on security, counterterrorism, intelligence sharing, and regional stability following a series of high-level meetings between Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and top officials of the U.S. government in Washington.
Ribadu undertook a three-day working visit to the United States from May 4 to May 6, during which he met with U.S. Vice President J. D. Vance, Acting National Security Adviser and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Under Secretary for Political Affairs Allison Hooker, and Assistant Secretary of War Daniel Zimmerim.
The meetings focused on deepening collaboration between both countries in areas including defence cooperation, intelligence exchange, counterterrorism operations, regional security, economic resilience, and democratic governance. Ribadu also conveyed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s longstanding strategic partnership with the United States.
According to a statement on the engagements, both countries reviewed the current state of Nigeria-U.S. relations and discussed measures to confront emerging security threats across West Africa and the Sahel, particularly terrorism, violent extremism, cybercrime, and transnational organised crime.
Ribadu stressed the need for sustained international cooperation in tackling insecurity in the region, noting that Nigeria remains committed to promoting peace, democratic governance, and economic development across Africa. He also highlighted Nigeria’s role as a frontline state in counterterrorism efforts within the Lake Chad Basin and the wider West African region.
“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 discussions at the U.S. Department of State with Allison Hooker, the Nigerian NSA expressed appreciation for continued American support in intelligence collaboration, security assistance, humanitarian interventions, and defence capacity building. He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to implementing agreements reached under the Nigeria–U.S. Joint Working Group framework established to coordinate bilateral cooperation on strategic and security matters.
Both sides also reviewed progress made under the Joint Working Group and discussed additional measures aimed at improving military cooperation, border security, strategic communications, institutional capacity development, and intelligence-sharing mechanisms.
Ribadu further briefed U.S. officials on reforms being implemented by the Nigerian government to address insecurity and stabilise affected communities. According to the statement, the NSA outlined the Tinubu administration’s “whole-of-government approach,” which combines military operations with non-kinetic measures such as economic development, deradicalisation programmes, community engagement, and regional partnerships.
