Onanuga said both countries agreed to immediately implement a non-binding cooperation framework and establish a Joint Working Group to coordinate actions under the new partnership.
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – The Federal Government has disclosed that discussions held last week between a Nigerian delegation and top United States officials have produced an agreement to strengthen security cooperation between both countries.
The delegation, led by the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, held meetings in Washington, D.C. with senior officials of the US Congress, the White House Faith Office, the State Department, the National Security Council and the Department of War.
A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Monday, November 24, 2026, stated that in all the engagements, the Nigerian team refuted allegations of genocide in Nigeria, insisting that attacks affect communities across religious and ethnic lines. It maintained that wrong framing of the situation undermines national unity and distorts realities on the ground.
He added that following the talks, the US government affirmed its readiness to enhance security support to Nigeria including improved intelligence sharing, faster processing of defence equipment requests, and possible provision of excess defence articles, subject to availability, to strengthen ongoing operations against terrorists and violent extremist groups.
Accordign to him, the US also indicated willingness to offer complementary support, including humanitarian assistance to affected populations in the Middle Belt and technical guidance to improve early-warning mechanisms.
Onanuga said both countries agreed to immediately implement a non-binding cooperation framework and establish a Joint Working Group to coordinate actions under the new partnership, while the Nigerian delegation reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving civilian protection measures as part of its broader security strategy.
The presidential spokesman further said the talks also provided an opportunity for Nigeria to correct misconceptions about its internal security challenges and to reinforce a coordinated approach to protecting vulnerable communities.
Members of the delegation included Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi; Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede; Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Parker Undiandeye; Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; Director of Foreign Relations at the Office of the NSA, Ambassador Ibrahim Babani; and Special Adviser to the NSA, Ms. Idayat Hassan.