The United States has expressed significant concerns regarding Nigeria’s ongoing struggles with civilian deaths and funding gaps in its counterterrorism efforts. This statement was made during the recent US-Nigeria Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting held in Washington, where both nations reviewed their counterterrorism collaboration since their initial meeting in Abuja earlier this year.
Despite Nigeria’s reported actions, including the prosecution of terror suspects and the recruitment of 50,000 police officers, the US continues to see challenges that hinder Nigeria’s delisting from the Country of Particular Concern (CPC) list. The US noted that the federal government’s efforts to assist internally displaced persons (IDPs) were insufficient and flagged the increasing number of civilian casualties due to terrorism as a crucial factor affecting Nigeria’s status.
During the JWG meeting, discussions focused on critical issues, including the protection of Christian communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and the need for enhanced judicial and security institutions to hold those accountable for violence. The meeting was hosted by Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker, with a Nigerian delegation led by National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
While the US acknowledged Nigeria’s improvements, such as enhanced judicial capacities and counterterrorism prosecutions, it pointed out the need for greater transparency in humanitarian funding and the urgent need to address civilian fatalities.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, described the meeting as an opportunity to assess progress in counterterrorism efforts and to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation. She emphasized the necessity for better protections for IDPs and intelligence coordination between the two nations.
However, the US lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York LC, which has been engaged by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, criticized the engagement as lacking substantive outcomes. They characterized the discussions as having been largely inconsequential and suggested that the US administration under Donald Trump would not support President Bola Tinubu’s government.
The firm stressed that while the US will maintain cooperative efforts with Nigeria on mutual interests, it has reservations regarding the Nigerian leadership, hinting at previous allegations against President Tinubu.
