In a bid to strengthen Nigeria and United States Security cooperation , President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Sunday, met with the Commander of the United States, US Africa Command, AFRICOM), General Dagvin Anderson, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the nation’s capital,
The Special Assistant on Social Media to the President, Dada Olusegun, disclosed this in a post on his X handle, saying some officials of the Nigerian government, including the National Security Adviser, NSA, Nuhu Ribadu were at the meeting.
The magazine however believe that the meeting may not be unconnected with the military cooperation between the two countries which started last year after US President Threatened to launch a military strike against Nigeria, after alleging that Christians were being targeted by terrorists.
The Federal government, though denied that Christian genocide exists in the country, had immediately dispatched a delegation led by the NSA to meet with some officials of the US government in Washington DC, with the aim of dousing the diplomatic spat.
According to the presidential aide, General Anderson was accompanied to the Presidential Villa by the Charge d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, Keith Heffern, even though he did not give details of what the meeting was all about..
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu alongside his National Security Adviser @NuhuRibadu and Service Chiefs, received in Audience, the Commander of @USAfricaCommand, General Dagvin Anderson, his team and the Charge D’Affairs U.S Embassy in Nigeria, Keith Heffern at the State House.”
The meeting between President Tinubu and the AFRICOM commander came bare two weeks after the President Donald Trump-led US government said it has sent some troops to assist Nigeria in its counter-terrorism operations.
Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Gen Christopher Musa (rtd.), however, said there were no combatant US boots on the ground in the country
Gen Musa told the BBC, that the US has sent a small advisory team supporting intelligence gathering and training initiatives, he, however, did not disclose details regarding the size of the team, and whether they have arrived the country.
He also declined to disclose operational details citing security reasons.
“Their role is purely supportive,” the Defence Minister said, emphasising that Nigerian forces remain fully in charge of all operations and decision-making on the ground.
On December 25, 2025, the United States military, in coordination with the Armed Forces of Nigeria, carried out strikes operations across multiple locations in in Sokoto State.
The FG has maintained that the partnership with the United States is governed by Nigeria’s laws and strategic interests, and is designed solely to enhance the operational effectiveness of local forces in the fight against terrorism and insurgency.
Recall that President Trump had on December 25 disclosed that his country launched an air strike on terrorists hideouts in Sokoto state, saying the operation was part of the security cooperation with the Nigerian government to combat terrorism in the country.
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