In a significant development in the fight against insecurity, the United States and Nigeria have reached a new security cooperation agreement. The deal centres on enhanced intelligence sharing, military logistics, and humanitarian support — a move aimed at bolstering Nigeria’s efforts to counter terrorism and violence across the country.
A high-level Nigerian delegation, led by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, recently held talks in Washington, D.C., with senior U.S. officials, including representatives from the State Department, National Security Council, Congress, and the U.S. Department of War.
According to the Nigerian Presidency, both countries have agreed to immediately activate a non-binding cooperation framework to guide their collaboration.
It’s a deal that successive Nigerian administrations have been seeking for over twelve years.Help by the US government to fight insecurity within Nigeria’s borders.
It has taken the intervention of US President Donald Trump to get to this point.
President Trump recently criticised the Nigeria government over alleged attacks targeting Christians in the country.
He threatened to withdraw financial support to Nigeria, saying the government had been ineffective in addressing the killings that have continued to plague the nation.
Trump had previously declared Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” over the alleged killing of Christians, claiming that Christianity was “facing an existential threat” in the country.
A key feature of the deal is the establishment of a Joint Working Group, tasked with coordinating all aspects of the security partnership.
MUST READ: The United States has vetoed the draft United Nations resolution calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza
Under the agreement, the U.S. will provide enhanced intelligence assistance to Nigeria to improve its ability to detect and respond to terrorist and extremist threats.
The U.S. has promised to expedite the processing of Nigeria’s defence equipment requests. There is also a potential provision of “excess defence articles” — military hardware that the U.S. may offer to Nigeria, subject to availability.
Technical assistance will be provided to help Nigeria strengthen early-warning mechanisms for attacks, improving civilian protection.
AND complementary support will be given to conflict-affected communities, especially in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where violence has displaced many and threatened local populations.
The Nigerian Government has said it is deeply committed to protecting civilians in its security operations.
Spokesman for President Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga, emphasized that the cooperation framework presents a constructive, solution-driven partnership with the U.S. and could help correct what he called misconceptions about Nigeria’s security challenges.
Onanuga also noted that during the talks, the Nigerian delegation strongly refuted recent allegations of genocide, arguing that the insecurity in Nigeria affects people of all ethnic and religious backgrounds.
Some voices, including from Nigerian civil society and religious groups, have urged caution. For example, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) called for any collaboration with the U.S. to fully respect Nigeria’s sovereignty, warning against framing the country as a battleground for foreign intervention.
Others worry that increased foreign military involvement could carry risks — including a loss of control over how and when intelligence is used, or unintended escalation of local tensions.
As the Joint Working Group gets underway, all eyes will be on how effectively this partnership translates into on-the-ground security improvements.
Will enhanced intelligence sharing and logistical support turn the tide against insecurity in Nigeria — or will challenges remain too entrenched?
For now, both governments are betting that this renewed cooperation marks a turning point in their long-standing fight against violence.
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
