NIGERIA, USA DEEPEN COOPERATION ON SECURITY, COUNTERTERRORISM AS RIBADU MEETS VP VANCE, RUBIO
WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES – MAY 9, 2026
Nigeria and the United States are moving forward in deepening cooperation on security, counterterrorism, regional stability, and strategic partnership following a series of high-level engagements in Washington D.C.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed that Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, undertook a three-day working visit to the United States from May 4 to May 6, where he conveyed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to Nigeria’s longstanding strategic partnership with the United States.
During the visit, Ribadu held meetings with U.S. Vice President J. D. 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 engagements provided an avenue for both countries to review the current state of Nigeria–United States relations and strengthen ongoing collaboration in counterterrorism, defence cooperation, intelligence sharing, regional security, economic resilience, and democratic governance.
Ribadu stressed the importance of sustained cooperation in addressing emerging security challenges across West Africa and the Sahel region, particularly terrorism, violent extremism, transnational organised crime, and cyber threats.
According to the statement, Nigeria remains fully committed to working with international partners to promote peace, stability, democratic governance, and economic development across Africa. Ribadu also underscored Nigeria’s role as a regional leader and frontline state in counterterrorism operations within the Lake Chad Basin and West Africa.
Discussions further focused on the evolving security situation in the Sahel, the need for stronger regional cooperation, and efforts to enhance institutional capacity to effectively tackle complex and asymmetric threats.
During his meeting with Undersecretary for Political Affairs Allison Hooker at the U.S. Department of State, the NSA expressed Nigeria’s appreciation to the U.S. government for continued support in areas including security assistance, intelligence collaboration, defence capacity building, humanitarian support, and counterterrorism operations.
Ribadu also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to implementing the agreed roadmap under the Nigeria–U.S. Joint Working Group (JWG), established to strengthen structured bilateral cooperation on strategic and security-related matters.
The statement added that both sides reviewed progress under the JWG framework and discussed practical measures to improve the implementation of agreed initiatives, including intelligence sharing, military cooperation, border security, strategic communications, counterterrorism support, and capacity development for Nigerian security institutions.
The NSA equally briefed U.S. officials on ongoing reforms and operational measures by the Nigerian government aimed at improving national security, stabilising affected communities, and addressing the root causes of insecurity. He highlighted the administration’s whole-of-government approach, which combines kinetic and non-kinetic measures such as community engagement, economic development, deradicalisation programmes, and regional partnerships.
U.S. officials commended Nigeria’s leadership role in regional peace and security efforts and acknowledged the country’s importance as a strategic partner of the United States in Africa.
Both nations reaffirmed their shared commitment to democratic values, regional stability, economic cooperation, and the promotion of sustainable peace and security across West Africa and the Sahel region.
