Nigeria and the United States have reinforced their long-standing defence partnership, with renewed emphasis on military innovation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and strategic capacity building, signalling a broader shift in bilateral security cooperation beyond conventional military engagement.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Mr Richard Pheelangwah, conveyed the Minister of Defence’s remarks while receiving former Commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), General William Ward (Rtd), during a courtesy visit to the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
He described General Ward as a distinguished military leader whose tenure as AFRICOM’s inaugural commander continues to influence contemporary security cooperation across Africa.
The Permanent Secretary reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deepening defence relations with the United States through expanded collaboration in military training, intelligence sharing, counter-terrorism operations, maritime security, logistics support and professional military education.
He said that “innovation, emerging technologies and institutional capacity building have become increasingly important as armed forces adapt to more complex and technology-driven security threats.”
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Discussions also explored the future of defence planning, with both sides examining the growing role of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, strategic partnerships and multi-domain operations in preparing African militaries for emerging security challenges.
The engagement further provided an opportunity to exchange lessons on institutional development and defence transformation.
In his remarks, General William E. Ward (Rtd) commended General Musa’s leadership both as former Chief of Defence Staff and now as Minister of Defence.
He advocated stronger economic engagement between Nigeria and the United States while stressing that sustainable security requires equal attention to cybersecurity, strategic cooperation and strong societal institutions, including family values.
The meeting reinforced the enduring Nigeria–United States defence relationship and reflected both countries’ intention to sustain collaboration on regional stability, institutional development and future-oriented military capabilities as security threats continue to evolve.
