- US officials, Nigerian Delegation Agree on New Steps to Tackle Insecurity
- Bayo Onanuga said the discussions were frank and productive
- US officials also indicated willingness to provide humanitarian relief to communities affected by violence
The Nigerian government says its high level delegation in Washington has reached a renewed understanding with United States officials to work more closely in addressing the country’s persistent security challenges.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the delegation was led by the National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and held a series of meetings last week with senior figures in the United States Congress, the White House Faith Office, the State Department, the National Security Council and the Department of War.
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The visits were prompted by allegations in some American circles that Nigeria is witnessing a coordinated campaign of violence targeting Christians.
Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said the discussions were frank and productive and have opened the door to a stronger security partnership between both countries. He added that the talks created new opportunities for cooperation designed to improve the safety of Nigerian citizens.
During the meetings held in Washington the Nigerian delegation firmly rejected claims of genocide, insisting that violent attacks affect families and communities across all religious and ethnic groups. According to Onanuga the delegates warned that presenting the crisis in narrow religious terms distorts reality and risks deepening divisions within the country.
Following the engagements the United States government expressed readiness to expand its security support to Nigeria. This includes improved intelligence sharing and faster processing of defence equipment requests as well as the possible release of surplus American defence assets to help Nigeria combat terrorism and violent extremist organisations.
US officials also indicated willingness to provide humanitarian relief to communities affected by violence in the Middle Belt region and to support efforts aimed at strengthening early warning systems.
Both sides agreed to immediately activate a non binding cooperation framework and create a joint working group to coordinate the areas of collaboration. Onanuga said Nigeria in return reaffirmed its commitment to improving protection for civilians caught in the country’s conflict zones.
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