The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, met with a delegation from the United States Congress on Sunday in Abuja as both countries continued their talks on shared security concerns. The meeting took place during the lawmakers’ visit to Nigeria, which came shortly after earlier discussions held in Washington, DC.
The NSA explained through a message shared on his X handle that the US team arrived on a fact-finding mission, following ongoing engagements between both sides. The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, also joined the meeting, showing that the issues being discussed remain important to both governments.
During the talks, the two sides discussed cooperation in counter-terrorism, steps to improve stability in the region, and ways to strengthen the long-term security partnership between Nigeria and the United States. Ribadu expressed confidence that the talks would grow trust and reinforce joint efforts toward peace and safety.
The meeting took place at a time when Nigeria and the United States are facing diplomatic strain. This tension grew after US President Donald Trump placed Nigeria back on the list of Countries of Particular Concern over claims of religious freedom violations, with warnings of possible military action. The Nigerian government has rejected those claims, saying that security threats cut across all religions.
Despite the pressure, Nigeria has continued to meet with international partners to gather support for its security challenges. On November 20, the NSA also met with the US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, at the Pentagon in an earlier round of talks where both sides discussed ways to respond more effectively to Nigeria’s security crisis.