RismadarVoice Reporters
October 1, 2026
Nigeria and the United States have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening military cooperation, with renewed focus on counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing and capacity building for the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), made this known during a meeting with Major General Matthew Brown, Commander of the United States Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, at the Ministry of Defence in Abuja.
The meeting provided an opportunity for both countries to review existing joint security initiatives and explore a more results-oriented framework for future defence cooperation.
Musa expressed appreciation for the longstanding security partnership between Nigeria and the United States, particularly in efforts to address terrorism and other security threats.
He identified specialised training, intelligence sharing, capacity building, border surveillance, counter-improvised explosive device support and defence infrastructure development as areas where cooperation could be strengthened.
The minister said enhanced collaboration would support Nigeria’s efforts to improve its domestic defence capabilities and strengthen ongoing operations against terrorist groups.
Musa also highlighted the importance of building Nigeria’s capacity to respond independently and effectively to emerging security threats.
In his remarks, Brown acknowledged the longstanding military-to-military relationship between Nigeria and the United States and congratulated the country on its 66th Independence Anniversary.
He described the defence relationship between both countries as strategic and based on mutual trust.
Brown said his visit was intended to deepen his understanding of Nigeria’s security priorities and determine how cooperation could be better aligned with the country’s needs.
He also stressed the importance of stronger intelligence cooperation between the two countries as they confront evolving security challenges.
The engagement comes as Nigeria seeks broader international partnerships to address terrorism, banditry and other security threats while strengthening its domestic defence capabilities.
Musa has recently called for stronger international cooperation against security threats, arguing that terrorism and other forms of insecurity in Nigeria have national, regional and global consequences.
Nigeria has also emphasised increased domestic defence production, improved intelligence coordination and greater use of technology as part of its broader security strategy.
The latest Nigeria-US engagement is expected to strengthen existing military ties and expand cooperation in areas considered critical to Nigeria’s counter-terrorism and national security efforts.
