Nigeria Secures U.S. Intelligence Support, Excess Defence Equipment – Presidency

The Federal Government has secured renewed security commitments from the United States, including enhanced intelligence sharing and access to excess defence equipment, as part of efforts to tackle escalating insecurity across the country.

The development follows a series of high-level meetings between a Nigerian delegation led by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, and senior officials of the U.S. Government.

According to a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by Presidential Spokesperson, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the U.S. pledged to expedite the processing of Nigeria’s defence equipment requests, deepen intelligence cooperation, and consider the provision of excess defence articles to strengthen ongoing counterterrorism and counter-insurgency operations.

The Nigerian delegation also held engagements with members of the U.S. Congress, the State Department, National Security Council, White House Faith Office and the Department of War, where discussions centred on addressing violent extremism, banditry and mass abductions.

Onanuga said the team firmly refuted allegations of genocide during the meetings, stressing that violent attacks in Nigeria cut across religious and ethnic lines. He warned that misleading narratives risk distorting the realities experienced by affected communities.

The U.S. Government, he added, also expressed readiness to expand humanitarian assistance to vulnerable populations, especially in the Middle Belt, and provide technical support to strengthen early-warning systems for crisis prevention.

Both countries agreed to activate a new non-binding cooperation framework and establish a Joint Working Group to coordinate the implementation of all agreed security initiatives.

The delegation reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to safeguarding civilians and improving human-rights compliance as part of broader stabilisation efforts.

Members of the delegation included the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi; Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede; Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lt-Gen Emmanuel Undiandeye; Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; Director of Foreign Relations at the Office of the NSA, Amb. Ibrahim Babani; and Special Adviser to the NSA, Ms. Idayat Hassan.