U.S. Embassy Delegation Meets Tinubu’s SSA, Dr. Abiodun Essiet, on Middle Belt Peace Efforts

ABUJA, NIGERIA — 28 February 2025

A delegation from the Embassy of the United States of America in Nigeria has reaffirmed Washington’s interest in understanding the root causes of ongoing conflicts in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening peace and social cohesion across the region.

The U.S. team, led by Deputy Political Counsellor Dianna Palequin and accompanied by the Embassy’s Human Rights Officer and Dave Young, made the commitment on Friday in Abuja during a courtesy visit to Dr. Abiodun Essiet, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Community Engagement (North Central).
During the meeting, discussions focused on President Tinubu’s community engagement programme—an initiative coordinated through Dr. Essiet’s office—designed to promote peacebuilding, conflict mitigation, and strengthened inter-communal relationships across Middle Belt communities.

Both parties stressed the need for deeper collaboration and sustained support to tackle the persistent security challenges affecting the region. The U.S. delegation noted that understanding the underlying drivers of the conflict remains essential to crafting effective, long-term solutions that benefit impacted communities.
In her response, Dr. Essiet expressed gratitude for the Embassy’s continued commitment to peacebuilding in Nigeria. She noted that President Tinubu’s administration is working tirelessly to ensure that all Nigerians live in safe, stable, and peaceful environments.
“The President is doing everything humanly possible to ensure Nigerians can lead peaceful and productive lives,” she said, adding that external partnerships remain crucial to sustaining community-level interventions.
As part of her broader mandate, Dr. Essiet has been engaging various community groups, traditional institutions, and civil society actors across the North Central region. These engagements have centred on addressing grievances, preventing escalation of tensions, and reinforcing the importance of unity and coexistence.

Her office’s recent dialogues continue to highlight the critical role of community engagement in fostering trust, strengthening early-warning systems, and promoting long-term social harmony in the Middle Belt.

The visit by the U.S. Embassy underscores the growing international recognition of Nigeria’s peacebuilding efforts and the need for collaborative approaches to resolving conflicts and promoting sustainable development.