Ribadu Meets Top US Officials on Counterterrorism, Defence Cooperation

Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, has concluded high-level security talks with senior United States officials during a three-day working visit to the US focused on counterterrorism cooperation, intelligence sharing and regional security challenges.

The visit, which took place from May 4 to 6, included meetings with US Vice President J. D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is also serving as Acting National Security Adviser.

Ribadu also held separate engagements with Undersecretary for Political Affairs Allison Hooker and Assistant Secretary of War Daniel Zimmerim.

Details of the meetings were disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga.

According to the statement, Ribadu conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations between Nigeria and the United States, particularly in the area of strategic security cooperation.

He emphasised the need for sustained collaboration to address emerging threats across West Africa and the Sahel, including terrorism, violent extremism, organised transnational crime and cyber-related attacks.

Nigeria has remained one of Africa’s frontline states in the fight against insurgency, particularly through military operations against extremist groups operating in the Lake Chad Basin and neighbouring regions.

The talks reviewed the current state of Nigeria-US relations and explored ways to expand cooperation in intelligence exchange, defence support, democratic governance and economic resilience.

Ribadu reportedly highlighted Nigeria’s commitment to peacebuilding and regional stability, stressing the country’s leadership role in supporting collective security efforts across West Africa.

He also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to implementing agreements reached under the Nigeria-US Joint Working Group, a structured bilateral framework established to deepen strategic cooperation on security and diplomatic matters.

The Joint Working Group has served as a platform for collaboration in areas such as military training, border security, strategic communication and institutional capacity building for Nigeria’s security agencies.

During his meeting at the US State Department, Ribadu expressed appreciation for ongoing American support in intelligence collaboration, defence assistance and counterterrorism operations.

He also briefed US officials on the Tinubu administration’s broader national security strategy, which combines military action with non-kinetic approaches such as community engagement, deradicalisation programmes, economic intervention and regional partnerships.

Security experts have increasingly advocated this “whole-of-government” strategy as essential to addressing the root causes of insecurity, particularly in conflict-prone communities.

US officials reportedly commended Nigeria’s role as a stabilising force in Africa and recognised its strategic importance in efforts to counter extremism and maintain democratic stability across the region.

The visit comes at a time of renewed concern over security challenges in parts of northern Nigeria and the wider Sahel, where extremist violence and political instability continue to threaten regional peace.

Both countries concluded the meetings with a renewed commitment to deepen diplomatic engagement and expand defence cooperation through the Joint Working Group framework.

Analysts say the talks underscore Nigeria’s continued importance in Washington’s Africa security strategy and reflect growing international recognition of Abuja’s regional influence.