By Micah Jonah, February 23, 2026
A senior United States government official is set to arrive in Nigeria for high level talks – focused on combating terrorism financing, strengthening security cooperation between both nations.
Jonathan Burke, Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing at the United States Department of the Treasury, will visit Nigeria from Monday to Tuesday for strategic engagements with government officials and private sector leaders.
According to a statement by the Embassy of the United States, Abuja, the visit forms part of the administration of President Donald Trump’s broader efforts to curb violence against Christians and other vulnerable groups while tightening financial systems against abuse by extremist networks.
During the visit, Mr Burke is expected to meet Nigerian authorities and financial sector stakeholders to discuss risks within the financial ecosystem, strengthen safeguards against illicit flows linked to terrorism.
This will be the second high profile American visit to Nigeria this year. Recently, a delegation led by Under Secretary of State Allison Hooker held talks with Nigerian officials under a joint working group focused on addressing terror related attacks.
In 2025, a U.S. Congressional delegation also visited Abuja, met with Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, as both countries intensified intelligence and security collaboration.
Diplomatic ties between Abuja and Washington witnessed tension after President Trump designated Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern over alleged religious persecution claims. The development was followed by expanded security cooperation, including joint counterterror operations in parts of northern Nigeria.
Two weeks ago, about 100 U.S. military personnel reportedly arrived in Nigeria as part of a planned deployment, aimed at supporting Nigerian forces in tackling insurgency and terror threats.
Observers say the latest visit signals continued American interest in Nigeria’s internal security architecture and the financial networks believed to sustain extremist groups operating across the region.
