Presidential Spokesman Bayo Onanuga says the United States has pledged fresh and deeper security cooperation with Nigeria following a series of high-level engagements between top Nigerian officials and senior U.S. authorities.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Onanuga said Washington committed to enhanced intelligence-sharing, expedited processing of Nigeria’s defence equipment requests, and the possible provision of excess defence articles to strengthen ongoing operations against terrorists and violent extremist groups.
He noted that the Nigerian delegation, led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, firmly refuted allegations of genocide during the meetings, stressing that violence in affected regions cuts across religious and ethnic lines. He warned that misleading narratives could distort on-the-ground realities and undermine stabilisation efforts.
According to Onanuga, the U.S. also indicated readiness to expand humanitarian assistance to affected Middle Belt communities and provide technical support to strengthen Nigeria’s early-warning and rapid-response systems.
Both countries agreed to immediately activate a non-binding cooperation framework and establish a Joint Working Group that will coordinate all agreed security initiatives.
The Presidency added that the delegation reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to improving civilian protection as part of its broader stabilisation and counter-insurgency strategy.