The Nigerian government and the United States have reached a new understanding to deepen their security partnership.
The agreement opens the door to enhanced intelligence support, faster processing of defence equipment requests, and potential access to excess U.S. military hardware to bolster operations against terrorists and violent extremist groups.
These were disclosed in a statement on Monday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, following last week’s high-level discussions and engagements between a Nigerian delegation and U.S. officials.
Mr Onanuga noted both countries agreed ‘to implement immediately a non-binding cooperation framework and to establish a Joint Working Group’ to ensure a unified and coordinated approach to the agreed areas of cooperation.
He said that in return, the Nigerian delegation led by the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening civilian protection measures.
“Following these engagements, the United States Government affirmed its readiness to deepen security cooperation with Nigeria. 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,” Mr Onanuga explained.
The Presidential Spokesperson further revealed that the United States also expressed its willingness to extend complementary support, including humanitarian assistance to affected populations in the Middle Belt and technical support to strengthen early-warning mechanisms.
Misconceptions
Mr Onanuga also highlighted that the discussions provided ample opportunity to correct misconceptions about Nigeria, forged a constructive, solution-driven partnership with the United States, reinforced mutual trust, and advanced a coordinated approach to protecting vulnerable communities, especially in the Middle Belt.
The Presidential Spokesperson said that “in all engagements in Washington, DC, the Nigerian delegation refuted allegations of genocide in Nigeria,” emphasising that violent attacks affect families and communities across religious and ethnic lines.
He stated that the delegation also strongly rejected wrongful framing of the situation, saying such would only divide Nigerians and distort the realities on the ground.
Mr. Onanuga added that the Nigerian government used the opportunity to reaffirm its awareness of heightened sensitivities regarding religious freedom and security.
The Tinubu-led administration urged citizens to remain assured that firm, urgent, and coordinated steps are being taken to secure the nation.
The Nigerian delegation’s meeting with US Senior officials, US Congress, the White House Faith Office, the State Department, the National Security Council, and the Department of War, has now opened new avenues for cooperation with the U.S. government to further protect Nigerian citizens.
Members of the delegation included Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, Attorney General of the Federation; Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, Inspector General of Police; General Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff; Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Parker Undiandeye and Chief of Defence Intelligence; Ms. Idayat Hassan, Special Adviser to the NSA; and Ambassador Ibrahim Babani, Director of Foreign Relations at the Office of the National Security Adviser.