Nigeria, USA strengthen counterterrorism, defence procurement, military training, others
By Faith AM
Counterterrorism, defence procurement, intelligence sharing, and military training top discussions as the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar played host to the United States of America Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Richard M. Mills, Jr. at Ship House, Abuja on Thursday.
This is contained in a statement by the Personal Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Defence Minister, Mati Ali and made available to FMBlog on Thursday.
The statement read, “The Honourable Minister of Defence, His Excellency Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, CON, mni, today, Thursday, 07 August 2025, received the United States Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr. Richard M. Mills, Jr., at the Ministry of Defence, Ship House, Abuja.
“The courtesy visit reflects the shared resolve of both nations to deepen diplomatic and military cooperation in pursuit of regional peace and global security. In a warm and forward-looking exchange, both leaders reaffirmed their countries’ longstanding partnership, grounded in mutual respect, strategic alignment, and a joint commitment to combating emerging threats.
“The meeting focused on strengthening collaboration in counterterrorism, defence procurement, intelligence sharing, and military training. The Honourable Minister commended the continued support of the United States, particularly in building the capacity of Nigeria’s Armed Forces.
Both sides acknowledged the growing complexity of security challenges in the West African subregion and expressed readiness to pursue practical, coordinated responses through existing bilateral frameworks and upcoming high-level technical consultations.
“The engagement also aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises robust international partnerships to reinforce Nigeria’s national defence posture and regional leadership.
As both nations look to the future, this meeting symbolises a renewed chapter in the Nigeria–United States relationship built not just on strategy, but on shared values, confidence, and the pursuit of lasting peace and stability for all”, the statement noted.
