Nigeria, US reaffirm commitment to stronger partnership on security, trade
Nigeria and the United States have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their long-standing strategic partnership, with both countries pledging to deepen cooperation in security, trade, investment and regional stability.
The commitment was made on Monday during a meeting between the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, and the United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Frank Garcia, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja.
Welcoming the US delegation, Enikanolaiye said Nigeria attached great importance to its bilateral relationship with the United States and expressed confidence that the visit would further strengthen cooperation between both countries.
“Nigeria remains committed to strengthening collaboration in the areas of trade and investment, maritime security, counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing, and regional peace and security,” the minister said.
He highlighted the progress recorded through the Nigeria–United States Joint Working Group and disclosed that preparations were underway for the next bilateral engagement scheduled for Washington, DC, in August 2026.
On security, Enikanolaiye said the Federal Government would continue to address insecurity through enhanced law enforcement, prosecution of terrorism-related offences, improved protection of vulnerable communities, and sustained efforts to secure the Gulf of Guinea and the Lake Chad Basin.
The minister also reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to constructive dialogue on migration and consular matters, while rejecting suggestions that the country’s security challenges reflected a policy of religious persecution or genocide.
“While security challenges exist, they should not be misconstrued as a policy of religious persecution or genocide. The Government remains firmly committed to protecting all citizens irrespective of religion or ethnicity and to strengthening the rule of law,” he said.
In his remarks, Garcia described Nigeria as one of the United States’ most important strategic partners in Africa and praised the growing momentum in bilateral relations.
