Nigeria and the United States of America have inaugurated the Defence Institutional Technical Working Groups (DITWGs) in Abuja under the 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap to reinforce collaborative efforts to address terrorism, insecurity and regional instability.

This was as the Nigerian Navy said sustained collaboration with international partners, particularly the U.S., remains critical to advancing maritime security objectives and providing opportunities for capacity building, technical support, and intelligence exchange necessary to address evolving maritime threats.

Speaking at the inauguration, the head of the U.S. delegation, Mr Cate Dave, stated that the initiative supports strategic planning aimed at strengthening institutional capacity and denying terrorists safe havens.

A statement by the Director Defence Information (DDI), Maj-Gen. Samaila Uba said Dave emphasised the link between institutional development and effective counter-terrorism operations.

The team leader of the Nigerian delegation, Air Vice Marshal Francis Edosa, highlighted the importance of the partnership in tackling evolving security threats across Nigeria and the broader region.

Edosa noted that priorities include support to strengthen the warfighting capabilities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and sharpen its responsiveness to ultimately restore enduring peace and normalcy across the country.

According to the statement, both sides stressed the need for practical outcomes, accountability and sustained collaboration to enhance security and regional stability.

Last year, Nigeria and the U.S. established a Joint Working Group to deepen security cooperation, particularly focusing on counter-terrorism and protecting vulnerable communities following high-level meetings in Washington, D.C. in November 2025.

FLAG Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha, stressed the importance of cooperation when he received the U.S. Congressional Delegation (CODEL) to Western Naval Command Headquarters in Lagos, led by Adam Barker.

The FOC highlighted the command’s critical role in safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime domain and supporting security initiatives in the Gulf of Guinea, and reinforced its commitment to international maritime security cooperation.

Mustapha noted that Regional Maritime Awareness Capacity (RMAC) played a key role in the defeat of piracy on the Nigerian waters in 2022, leading the International Maritime Bureau to remove the country from its piracy list.

He also noted that RMAC greatly enhanced the Navy’s capacity to combat sea robbery, crude oil theft, and other illegal maritime activities, thereby making maritime trade routes safer and more secure.

Earlier, Barker commended the Nigerian Navy’s proactive approach to maritime security and reaffirmed the commitment of the U.S. to continued cooperation, particularly in strengthening maritime awareness and enhancing collective security frameworks in the Gulf of Guinea.

The Director of Naval Information, Navy Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho said as part of the visit, the delegation toured the RMAC Complex and received a comprehensive operational brief on its capabilities and contributions to regional maritime security.