The United States and Nigeria have agreed to deepen cooperation on counterterrorism, the protection of vulnerable Christian communities and the prosecution of perpetrators of violence.
The agreement followed the second meeting of the US-Nigeria Joint Working Group on Nigeria’s Particular Concern Designation, held in Washington this week.
The meeting was hosted by US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker and attended by a Nigerian delegation led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
According to a US State Department readout, discussions focused on protecting Christian communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, strengthening judicial and security institutions, and expanding military-to-military cooperation.
Both countries also reviewed efforts to facilitate the return of internally displaced persons to their ancestral communities, prosecute terrorism cases and combat the financing of terrorism.
The United States acknowledged Nigeria’s reported progress in prosecuting hundreds of terrorism suspects, expanding judicial capacity and recruiting and training 50,000 additional police officers.
Washington and Abuja also agreed to continue cooperation on terrorism financing and biometric information sharing to strengthen accountability.
The US further pledged to support Nigeria’s law-enforcement capacity through its Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and Bureau of Counterterrorism.
During a private meeting with Ribadu, Hooker reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to working with Nigeria to protect Christian communities and strengthen joint security efforts.
The Nigerian delegation also visited the Pentagon, where discussions with US defence officials focused on military cooperation.
The latest meeting builds on the first session of the Joint Working Group, which was held in Abuja on January 22.
