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The United States and Nigeria have agreed to set up a Joint Working Group to oversee a renewed phase of defence and security collaboration, following a series of high-level discussions held in Washington, D.C., last week.
The development was announced in a statement on Monday, November 24, by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the Nigerian President on Information and Strategy.
He said the talks strengthened what he described as a “constructive and solution-driven partnership” while helping to correct what Nigerian officials believe are harmful misinterpretations of the country’s security landscape.
According to Onanuga, the Nigerian delegation, led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, used every meeting in Washington to challenge allegations that the government was enabling or tolerating a religiously motivated genocide.
He said officials consistently dismissed such claims as inaccurate, insisting that violence in Nigeria affects communities of all faiths and ethnicities.
Onanuga noted that after the engagements, the U.S. government indicated a willingness to broaden its security cooperation with Nigeria.
This could involve improved intelligence sharing, quicker approval processes for defence procurement, and potential access to surplus U.S. military equipment, depending on availability, to support Nigeria’s campaign against terrorist networks and violent extremist groups.
He added that Washington also expressed readiness to provide humanitarian support for affected populations and technical assistance to enhance early-warning and conflict-prevention systems.
Both governments have now agreed to activate a non-binding cooperation framework immediately and establish a Joint Working Group to coordinate subsequent actions.
The mechanism is expected to streamline intelligence collaboration, clarify defence engagement channels, and create a more organised system for humanitarian coordination and crisis-response efforts.
Nigeria, for its part, reaffirmed what Onanuga called its “commitment to enhancing civilian protection measures” as security forces intensify operations against extremist factions.
Onanuga said last week’s meetings offered a crucial platform to address misconceptions about Nigeria and helped to rebuild confidence between Abuja and Washington.
He stressed that the government remains mindful of global concerns around religious freedom and urged Nigerians to be confident that “firm, urgent, and coordinated steps are being taken to secure the nation.”
The Nigerian team included Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Intelligence Lieutenant General Emmanuel Parker Undiandeye, Special Adviser to the NSA Idayat Hassan, and Ambassador Ibrahim Babani, Director of Foreign Relations in the NSA’s office.
The discussions came after U.S. President Donald Trump accused Nigeria of witnessing an ongoing Christian genocide—claims the Nigerian government has repeatedly rejected.
Trump subsequently labelled Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” and threatened potential military action if authorities failed to tackle insecurity.
Nigerian officials maintain that the violence is rooted in criminality, extremism, and land disputes rather than religious persecution.
The briefings in Washington were partly designed to reinforce this message to U.S. officials.
