Nigeria, United States Strengthen Security Cooperation to Combat Terrorism

Nigeria, United States Strengthen Security Cooperation to Combat Terrorism

Officials review intelligence sharing, border security and measures to disrupt terrorist financing

Nigeria and the United States have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening security cooperation and counter-terrorism efforts as senior officials from both countries held a meeting of the Nigeria-U.S. Counterterrorism Partnership in Washington, D.C.

The Nigerian delegation was led by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, while the United States delegation was led by Allison Hooker, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Political Affairs.

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, were also part of the Nigerian delegation at the meeting.

Discussions focused on reviewing progress in counter-terrorism cooperation between the two countries and identifying additional measures to strengthen security collaboration in response to emerging threats.

The officials considered ways to improve intelligence gathering and sharing, as well as coordination among security agencies involved in preventing and responding to terrorist activities.

The meeting also addressed efforts to disrupt sources of terrorist financing, with both sides examining measures to identify and prevent the movement of funds used to support terrorist activities.

Border security was another key area of discussion, including measures to prevent the trafficking of people, weapons and other illicit materials across national borders.

The two countries also discussed the protection of communities vulnerable to violent conflict and measures to support the safe return and reintegration of people displaced by insecurity.

In addition, the officials reviewed approaches to ensuring that individuals involved in terrorism-related crimes are held accountable through appropriate legal and judicial processes.

The Washington meeting was the second session of the Nigeria-U.S. Counterterrorism Partnership, following the inaugural meeting held in Abuja in January 2026.