Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, has held high-level discussions with senior United States officials to bolster counterterrorism efforts and regional security cooperation.
During a three-day working visit from May 4 to 6, Ribadu met with Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also serves as Acting National Security Adviser.
The talks focused on addressing emerging security challenges in West Africa and the Sahel region, including violent extremism, transnational organised crime, and cyber threats.
Ribadu also engaged with Undersecretary for Political Affairs Allison Hooker and Assistant Secretary of War Daniel Zimmerim.
According to a statement from Presidential Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga, Ribadu emphasised President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to the bilateral relationship and highlighted Nigeria’s role as a frontline state in the Lake Chad Basin.
The discussions reviewed the current state of Nigeria-U.S. relations, with both nations pledging to enhance collaboration in intelligence sharing, defense capacity building, and economic resilience.
Ribadu detailed Nigeria’s “whole-of-government” security strategy, which integrates kinetic military actions with non-kinetic measures such as community engagement, economic development, and deradicalisation programmes.
Onanuga further explained that a central component of the visit involved the implementation of the Nigeria-U.S. Joint Working Group (JWG) roadmap.
Both parties, he added, reviewed progress under this framework, discussing practical steps to improve border security, strategic communications, and capacity development for Nigerian security institutions.
U.S. officials commended Nigeria’s leadership in regional peace and security, acknowledging the nation as a vital strategic partner in Africa.
The meetings concluded with a mutual commitment to deepening diplomatic dialogue and defense ties through the Joint Working Group framework.
