The United States has pledged deeper military and intelligence support to Nigeria, marking a significant upgrade in security cooperation between the two nations.
The breakthrough follows intensive talks in Washington last week, where Nigeria’s top security chiefs met senior U.S. officials to reset and expand defense ties.
Who Sat at the Table
Led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, the Nigerian delegation included:
- Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi (SAN)
- Chief of Defence Staff General Olufemi Oluyede
- Chief of Defence Intelligence Lt-Gen Emmanuel Undiandeye
- Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun
They held closed-door sessions with the White House, State Department, National Security Council, and members of Congress.
What Nigeria Gained
- Stronger intelligence sharing
- Faster delivery of critical counter-terrorism equipment
- New Joint Working Group for real-time coordination
- Extra U.S. humanitarian aid for Middle Belt communities
- Technical help to build early-warning systems
Clearing the Air on “Genocide” Claims
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said the delegation used the visit to correct what Nigeria calls “dangerous mischaracterizations” of its security crisis.
Officials stressed that banditry, insurgency, and farmer-herder clashes cut across all faiths and ethnic groups and framing them as religious persecution only worsens division.
A Clear Message Home
“The government is fully aware of concerns around religious freedom and citizen safety,” Onanuga’s statement read. “Robust, urgent, and united action is underway to protect every Nigerian.”
After years of occasional friction, Abuja and Washington appear to have hit the reset button with hardware, intel, and trust now flowing both ways
