The Federal Government today announced a significant breakthrough in bilateral security relations with the United States, confirming that the US Government has signaled a robust commitment to deepening collaboration through expanded intelligence sharing and enhanced defence support.
The assurance followed a series of high-level engagements in Washington, D.C., last week between a Nigerian delegation led by National Security Adviser (NSA) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and key US officials, including representatives from the State Department, the National Security Council, and the Department of War.
According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the US affirmed its readiness to bolster Nigeria’s counter-terrorism and counter-extremism operations.
Key areas of support include:
• Enhanced Intelligence Support: Stepping up the sharing of crucial intelligence to aid anti-terrorist operations.
• Expedited Equipment: Faster processing of Nigeria’s requests for defence equipment and the potential provision of Excess Defence Articles (EDA) to equip the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Joint Working Group: To streamline this enhanced cooperation, both nations agreed to immediately implement a non-binding cooperation framework and establish a Joint Working Group to ensure coordinated action on security, humanitarian, and technical assistance.
The Nigerian delegation reportedly used the high-level access to refute damaging allegations regarding the security crisis, emphasizing that violence in the country impacts families and communities across all religious and ethnic lines.
The diplomatic effort aims to forge a constructive, solution-driven partnership with the US, ensuring that military and technical support is rapidly deployed to protect vulnerable communities, particularly in the Middle Belt, and advancing a more accurate global narrative of Nigeria’s complex security reality.
