By Eshioromeh Sebastian
Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has told United States officials that counterterrorism cannot be left for Nigeria alone to handle, arguing that the threat spreading across West Africa and the Sahel is a shared burden requiring urgent collective action.
Ribadu made the case during a three-day working visit to Washington DC, where he held high-level meetings with US Vice President J. D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and other senior officials.
According to a statement issued on May 9, 2026, and signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information and Strategy), Ribadu conveyed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “strong commitment to Nigeria’s longstanding strategic partnership with the United States.”
The statement detailed that Ribadu met with Vice President Vance, the Acting National Security Advisor, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Under Secretary for Political Affairs Allison Hooker, and Assistant Secretary of War Daniel Zimmerim.
“The meetings provided an opportunity for both sides to review the current state of Nigeria–United States relations and to further strengthen ongoing collaboration in counterterrorism, defence cooperation, intelligence sharing, regional security, economic resilience, and democratic governance,” the statement read.
Ribadu was quoted as emphasising “the importance of sustained cooperation in addressing emerging security challenges confronting West Africa and the broader Sahel region, particularly terrorism, violent extremism, transnational organised crime, and cyber threats.”
The NSA noted that Nigeria “remains fully committed to working with international partners in promoting peace, stability, democratic governance, and economic development across Africa.” He further underscored Nigeria’s role as “a regional leader and frontline state in counterterrorism efforts across the Lake Chad Basin and West Africa.”
According to the statement, discussions also focused on “the evolving security situation in the Sahel, the need for enhanced regional cooperation, and the importance of strengthening institutional capacity to respond effectively to complex and asymmetric threats.”
During his meeting with Under Secretary for Political Affairs Allison Hooker at the U.S. Department of State, Ribadu expressed Nigeria’s appreciation to the U.S. government for its continued support and cooperation “in various sectors, particularly in security assistance, intelligence collaboration, defence capacity building, humanitarian support, and counterterrorism operations.”
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to implementing the agreed roadmap under the Nigeria–U.S. Joint Working Group (JWG), “established to advance structured bilateral cooperation on strategic and security-related matters.”
Both sides reviewed progress under the JWG framework and discussed “practical measures to enhance the implementation of agreed initiatives, including intelligence sharing, military cooperation, counterterrorism support, border security, strategic communications, and capacity development for Nigerian security institutions.”
The statement noted that the discussions “highlighted the importance of maintaining regular channels of communication and strengthening institutional coordination between the two countries to address common security challenges.”
Ribadu also briefed U.S. officials on ongoing reforms and operational measures being undertaken by the Nigerian government to improve national security and stabilise affected communities. He emphasised the administration’s “whole-of-government approach, which combines kinetic and non-kinetic measures, including community engagement, economic development, deradicalisation initiatives, and regional partnerships.”
U.S. officials “commended Nigeria’s continued leadership role in regional peace and security efforts” and acknowledged Nigeria’s importance as “a strategic partner of the United States in Africa.”
The statement concluded that both sides “reaffirmed their shared commitment to democratic values, regional stability, economic cooperation, and the promotion of sustainable peace and security across West Africa and the Sahel.”
The meetings ended with a mutual commitment to deepen bilateral engagement through sustained diplomatic dialogue, enhanced defence and security cooperation, and the effective implementation of ongoing initiatives under the Joint Working Group framework.
“Both Nigeria and the United States expressed optimism about the future of the strategic partnership,” the statement said. “They reaffirmed their readiness to continue working closely to advance shared interests and address common global and regional challenges.
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