ABUJA — Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to defeating banditry and terrorism and strengthening national security through deeper cooperation with the United States, as National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu hosted a high-level U.S. delegation in Abuja for a strategic security session.
The meeting was led on the U.S. side by Allison Hooker and brought together senior figures from Nigeria’s security and intelligence establishment, including the Nigerian ambassador to the United States, Lateef K. K. Are, service chiefs and heads of the intelligence community.
Those present included the chief of defence staff, the chiefs of army, air and naval staff, the chief of defence intelligence, the inspector-general of police, the director-general of the Department of State Services and the director-general of the National Intelligence Agency.
Participants reviewed Nigeria’s ongoing security challenges and discussed progress made in countering insurgency and banditry, with both sides noting improvements in the effectiveness and professionalism of Nigeria’s security institutions.
The talks focused on expanding intelligence cooperation and identifying additional measures to strengthen community-based protection mechanisms, particularly in areas affected by violence.
Both delegations stressed the importance of sustaining and deepening bilateral ties, highlighting U.S. support in areas including defence equipment provision, capacity building, specialised training, intelligence sharing, counter-terrorism financing and mutual legal assistance.
Special attention was also given to the protection of vulnerable communities, including Christian communities in northern Nigeria, within the framework of a broader, people-centred national security approach.
Analysts say the renewed engagement between Nigeria and the United States is expected to bolster confidence in Nigeria’s defence capabilities and reinforce its role in promoting peace and stability across West Africa and the wider region.
