Insecurity: Presidency Reveals Agreement Reached by Nigerian Delegation and US Officials

The Presidency says recent engagements between a high-level Nigerian team and senior officials of the United States government have produced a renewed commitment to strengthen security cooperation between both countries.

The delegation, led by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, held meetings in Washington with officials from the US Congress, the White House Faith Office, the State Department, the National Security Council and the Department of Defense. The visit followed persistent allegations of a targeted campaign against Christians in Nigeria, a claim the Nigerian side firmly rejected.

According to presidential aide Bayo Onanuga, the delegation clarified that violence in Nigeria affects communities across religious and ethnic lines and warned that inaccurate labels risk worsening tensions. He said the discussions helped clear misconceptions and opened new avenues for collaboration.

US officials were said to have affirmed readiness to deepen cooperation through enhanced intelligence sharing, expedited processing of defence equipment requests and the possible allocation of available surplus military assets to support ongoing operations against terrorist and extremist groups.

Washington also expressed willingness to provide humanitarian support for communities affected by violence in the Middle Belt and to assist Nigeria in improving early-warning mechanisms to prevent attacks.

Both sides agreed to begin implementing a non-binding cooperation framework and to establish a joint working group to coordinate follow-up actions. The Nigerian delegation restated the government’s commitment to improving civilian protection as part of wider efforts to restore security nationwide.