Nigeria and the United States have agreed to deepen their defence cooperation as both nations seek to bolster efforts to combat regional terrorism, officials said on Wednesday.
Speaking in Abuja, Nigeria’s Defence Minister, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), reaffirmed the country’s commitment to expanding joint counter-terrorism operations with Washington.
The minister spoke during a meeting with Major General Matthew Brown, commander of the US Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), who was visiting the Nigerian capital to review existing joint security initiatives.”Collaborative security operations in the North East, particularly around the Lake Chad Basin, have significantly boosted troop morale,” Gen Musa said.
The Nigerian defence ministry highlighted several priority areas for future collaboration, including:Specialized training for Nigerian Special ForcesEnhanced intelligence sharing and capacity buildingBorder surveillance and counter-IED (Improvised Explosive Device) supportModernisation of local defence infrastructure.
In response, Maj Gen Brown praised the long-standing military partnership between the two nations, particularly ongoing counter-terrorism operations targeting ISIS-affiliated militants in Africa.
Addressing the presence of US military personnel following the departure of troops previously stationed in Bauchi State, Maj Gen Brown clarified that American deployments in Nigeria remain temporary and are strictly focused on institutional support and collaboration. He added that the strategic visit was intended to align broader US support with Nigeria’s immediate defence priorities while strengthening ongoing intelligence-sharing mechanisms.
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