The presidency says Nigeria and the United States have agreed to establish a Joint Working Group to enhance counterterrorism operations and deepen security cooperation between the two countries.
The decision follows a series of high-level meetings in Washington, DC, last week between senior US officials and a Nigerian delegation led by National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
According to the presidency, the Nigerian team held engagements with members of the US Congress, the State Department, the National Security Council, the Department of War, and the White House Faith Office.
In a statement issued on Monday, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser on information and strategy to President Bola Tinubu, said the US government reaffirmed its readiness to strengthen security ties with Nigeria.
“Following these engagements, the United States Government affirmed its readiness to deepen security cooperation with Nigeria,” the statement said.
“This includes enhanced intelligence support, expedited processing of defence equipment requests, and the potential provision of excess defence articles, subject to availability, to reinforce ongoing operations against terrorists and violent extremist groups.”
Onanuga added that the US also expressed willingness to provide humanitarian assistance to communities affected by violence in the Middle Belt, as well as technical support to improve early-warning systems.
Both countries agreed to implement a non-binding cooperation framework immediately and to establish a Joint Working Group to coordinate activities and ensure a unified approach to the agreed areas of collaboration.
In return, the Nigerian delegation restated the government’s commitment to strengthening civilian protection during military and security operations.
The meetings in Washington also allowed Nigeria to address what it described as “misconceptions” about the security situation in the country.
The delegation reportedly rejected allegations of genocide, stressing that violence has affected communities “across religious and ethnic lines”.
Onanuga said the team “strongly rejected wrongful framing of the situation”, warning that such narratives could further divide Nigerians and distort realities on the ground.
The federal government, he added, is aware of heightened sensitivities around religious freedom and security, and urged citizens to remain assured that “firm, urgent, and coordinated” measures are being taken to secure the nation.
Members of the Nigerian delegation included Attorney-General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi; Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun; Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa (if implied by “chief of defence staff”); Chief of Defence Intelligence Emmanuel Parker Undiandeye; Idayat Hassan, special adviser to the NSA; and Ibrahim Babani, director of foreign relations in the office of the NSA.