Nigeria and the United States have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation on security, counterterrorism, regional stability, and strategic partnership following a high-level visit by Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to the United States.

The development was disclosed on Saturday in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, through his official X handle.

According to the statement, Ribadu undertook a three-day working visit to the United States from May 4 to May 6, where he held a series of engagements with senior U.S. government officials on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

During the visit, Ribadu conveyed President Tinubu’s commitment to sustaining Nigeria’s longstanding strategic partnership with the United States.

The NSA met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Acting National Security Adviser and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Undersecretary for Political Affairs Allison Hooker, and Assistant Secretary of War Daniel Zimmerim.

The meetings focused on reviewing the current state of Nigeria–United States relations and strengthening cooperation in key areas, including counterterrorism, defence collaboration, intelligence sharing, regional security, economic resilience, and democratic governance.

Ribadu emphasised the need for sustained international cooperation in tackling emerging security threats confronting West Africa and the Sahel region, particularly terrorism, violent extremism, transnational organised crime, and cyber threats.

He reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to working with international partners to promote peace, stability, democratic governance, and economic development across Africa.

The NSA also highlighted Nigeria’s role as a frontline state in counterterrorism operations within the Lake Chad Basin and the broader West African region.

Discussions during the engagements also centred on the evolving security situation in the Sahel, enhanced regional collaboration, and the need to strengthen institutional capacity to effectively address asymmetric and complex security threats.

At a separate meeting with Allison Hooker at the U.S. Department of State, Ribadu expressed appreciation to the U.S. government for its continued support in areas such as security assistance, intelligence cooperation, defence capacity building, humanitarian intervention, and counterterrorism operations.

He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to implementing the agreed roadmap under the Nigeria–U.S. Joint Working Group (JWG), established to facilitate structured bilateral cooperation on strategic and security matters.

Both countries reviewed progress made under the JWG framework and discussed measures aimed at improving implementation of existing initiatives, including intelligence sharing, military cooperation, border security, strategic communications, counterterrorism support, and capacity development for Nigerian security institutions.

The talks further underscored the importance of maintaining regular communication channels and stronger institutional coordination between both countries in addressing shared security concerns.
Ribadu also briefed U.S. officials on ongoing reforms and operational measures introduced by the Nigerian government to improve national security, stabilise conflict-affected communities, and tackle the root causes of insecurity.
He explained that the Tinubu administration’s approach combines both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies, including community engagement, economic development, deradicalisation programmes, and regional partnerships.
U.S. officials commended Nigeria’s leadership role in promoting regional peace and security and described the country as a strategic partner of the United States in Africa.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to democratic values, regional stability, economic cooperation, and sustainable peace across West Africa and the Sahel.

The meetings concluded with both countries expressing optimism about the future of the Nigeria–United States strategic partnership and pledging to deepen bilateral engagement through sustained diplomatic dialogue, enhanced defence cooperation, and effective implementation of initiatives under the Joint Working Group framework.