By Ajewole Joshua|ABNews|November 25, 2025
The Federal Government says last week’s series of engagements between a high-level Nigerian delegation and top officials in the United States have paved the way for a stronger security partnership aimed at better protecting citizens at home.
Led by the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the delegation met with senior officials from the US Congress, the White House Faith Office, the State Department, the National Security Council, and the Department of War in Washington, DC.
During the meetings, the Nigerian team firmly dismissed claims of genocide in the country, stressing that the violence witnessed in some communities affects people across all religious and ethnic lines. They warned that misrepresenting the situation only fuels division and distracts from ongoing efforts to tackle insecurity.
US officials reaffirmed their readiness to work more closely with Nigeria on security matters. This includes improved intelligence sharing, faster processing of defence equipment requests, and the possible supply of excess defence materials to support current operations against terrorists and violent extremist groups.
Beyond military support, the United States also expressed willingness to provide humanitarian assistance to communities affected by violence, particularly in the Middle Belt, and to offer technical help for early-warning systems.
Both countries agreed to activate a non-binding cooperation framework immediately and set up a Joint Working Group to coordinate the new areas of collaboration.
The Nigerian delegation restated the government’s commitment to strengthening civilian protection and ensuring that security strategies remain people-centred.
Officials noted that the discussions helped clear misconceptions about Nigeria, built trust, and strengthened a coordinated approach to safeguarding vulnerable communities.
Delegation members included Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi; Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede; Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Parker Undiandeye; Special Adviser to the NSA, Idayat Hassan; and Director of Foreign Relations at the Office of the NSA, Ambassador Ibrahim Babani.
