The Federal Government on Thursday acknowledged that the US-Nigeria military and security cooperation had translated into tangible operational gains since November 2025.
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu made this known while speaking during the inauguration of the US-Nigeria Joint Working Group in Abuja
According to him, “I would like to place firmly on record Nigeria’s appreciation for the depth, quality and impact of U.S.-Nigeria military and security cooperation, since the November 2025 engagements, this cooperation has translated into tangible operational gains.
“Enhanced intelligence sharing, closer coordination between U.S. AFRICOM and Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters and sustained engagement across our security institutions.
“It has materially strengthened our counter-terrorism posture and situational awareness across multiple theatres of operation”
The NSA who said the engagements had moved decisively beyond dialogue to action and had supported improved target identification and operational fidelity added that the engagements had also, strengthened joint planning, and enabled more effective disruption of terrorist networks and transnational criminal elements.
According to him, these efforts have resulted in the neutralization of several hundreds of terrorists, the destruction of logistics hubs, and the interception of key facilitators and logisticians.
He commended the US commitment to the timely delivery of outstanding articles of war such as drones, helicopters, platforms, spare parts, and associated support systems procured over the past five years.
Mallam Ribadu further pointed out that the cooperation had been conducted with respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty, within agreed frameworks, and with a clear emphasis on joint operations, accountability and the protection of civilians.
He said the Federal Government had taken deliberate and decisive steps to confront insecurity with the formal declaration of security emergencies in vulnerable and high risk areas by President Bola Tinubu.
The NSA added that the president had authorised intensified joint operations, and directed the sustained deployment of security forces to priority locations, particularly those communities experiencing recurrent attacks on civilians and religious groups.
According to him, “These directives have been matched with concrete action.
“Nigeria is expanding early-warning and rapid-response mechanisms, developing a national database to serve as a single, authoritative source of accurate and verifiable data on deaths and casualties arising from violence.
“This effort will strengthening evidence-based decision-making, accountability, and the effectiveness of security responses”.
He said investigations and prosecutions relating to attacks on religious communities had been intensified to ensure that violence was met not only with force, but with justice and accountability.
According to him, Nigeria is a deeply plural society, and the protection of all citizens, Christians, Muslims, and those of other beliefs, is non-negotiable.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, said the current engagement represented the third high level engagement by senior US government leadership since the Nigeria’s delegation visit in November 2025.
He said the bilateral engagement was a reflection of not only a shared commitment to religious freedom and civilian protection, but also a mature strategic relationship grounded in trust, candour, and shared responsibility.
According to him, we want Nigerians to know that this partnership is working and yielding tangible gains, and to please bear with us.
In her remark, Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker said the US partnership with Nigeria was built on shared interest in investment, security, energy and regional security.
She said the focus of the meeting was to work together to deter violence against communities, prioritising countering terrorism and insecurity, investigating attacks and holding perpetrators accountable.
Hooker said the idea was to reduce the number of killings, forced displacements, and abductions in parts of the country.
“We appreciate Nigeria’s close cooperation with the US on degrading of terrorists’ capabilities to perpetrate violence against communities.
“The Dec. 25 airstrikes were closely coordinated with Nigeria and we will continue to work with them to defeat these heinous groups.”
Speaking on the recent abduction of worshippers in Kaduna Hooker urged the Nigerian government to take stronger and more decisive action to protect Christians communities in the country
She pointed out that while some progress had been made in recent months, the recent attacks showed that Nigeria must do more to guarantee the safety of Christians and their right to practise their faith freely.
According to her, “Today, we are here to discuss how we can work together to deter violence against Christian communities; prioritise counterterrorism and insecurity; investigate attacks and hold perpetrators accountable; and reduce the number of killings, forced displacements and abductions of Christians, particularly in the North-Central states.
“On the protection of Christians, the Nigerian government recently secured the release of 38 Christians abducted from a church in Kwara State, and another 265 abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School. This real progress is a direct result of our engagement with the Nigerian government.
“However, we are concerned about recent reports that gunmen kidnapped more than 170 Christians in Kaduna State on January 18. The Government of Nigeria must do more to protect Christians and their right to practise their faith freely and safely.”
She further explained that advancing religious freedom and security would deepen US–Nigeria relations in other areas, including trade, economic cooperation, health responses and the fight against terrorism, while also supporting the return of internally displaced persons to their communities.
