The United States Government has pledged enhanced intelligence support and the supply of defence equipment to strengthen Nigeria’s fight against terrorists and violent extremist groups, the Presidency said on Monday.
The commitment followed a series of high-level security engagements in Washington, D.C., between top Nigerian officials and key US institutions last week.
A delegation led by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, met with senior officials from the US Congress, the State Department, the National Security Council, the White House Faith Office, and the Department of War. Others on the delegation included the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi; Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede; Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lt.-Gen. Emmanuel Undiandeye; and Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
According to a statement by Presidential Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, both countries agreed to “immediately implement a non-binding cooperation framework” and establish a Joint Working Group to coordinate future actions.
Onanuga said the Abuja delegation used the meetings to counter allegations of a so-called genocide in Nigeria, stressing that violent attacks in the country affect “families and communities across religious and ethnic lines.”
He said, “The discussions provided ample opportunity to correct misconceptions about Nigeria, forged a constructive and solution-driven partnership with the United States, reinforced mutual trust, and advanced coordinated efforts to protect vulnerable communities, especially in the Middle Belt.”
The US, he added, also expressed readiness to provide humanitarian aid to affected communities and technical support to improve early-warning systems.
The Presidency said Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening civilian protection and improving responses to threats against religious freedom.
“The Federal Government is aware of heightened sensitivities around security and religious issues,” Onanuga stated, urging Nigerians to remain confident that “firm, urgent and coordinated steps are being taken to secure the nation.”
The security talks come weeks after US President Donald Trump issued a controversial threat, vowing to send American troops into Nigeria “guns-a-blazing” unless the Nigerian government stopped what he described as widespread killings of Christians.
Trump had labelled Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern,” accusing the government of failing to curb “mass slaughter.”
“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing’,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding that the US Department of War had been instructed to prepare for “possible action.”
President Bola Tinubu has since dismissed the genocide allegations and insisted that Nigeria remains committed to religious freedom and national unity.
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