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The United States has flagged Nigeria's rising civilian deaths from terrorism as a major challenge in its bid to be delisted from the Country of Particular Concern list. This criticism came at the end of the second US-Nigeria Joint Working Group meeting in Washington on Tuesday. The group discussed progress in counterterrorism efforts, including Nigeria's prosecution of hundreds of terror suspects and the recruitment of 50,000 police officers.

The US noted that Nigeria's efforts to date were inadequate, particularly in supporting and returning internally displaced persons, IDPs, to their ancestral homes. The country's federal government has been criticized for its handling of IDP resettlement, with the US pointing out that transparency in humanitarian spending was lacking. The Department reaffirmed its commitment to working with Nigeria to protect Christian communities and deepen joint security cooperation.

The meeting, hosted by Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker, was attended by a Nigerian delegation led by National Security Adviser, NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. The US-Nigeria Joint Working Group has been reviewing progress in the counterterrorism efforts since the first meeting in Abuja in January 2026.

A US lobby firm, Von Batten-Montague-York LC, hired by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, downplayed the significance of the meeting, describing it as "a lot of discussion about nothing." The firm questioned the delegation's protocol, arguing that the Nigerian government's PR spin presented National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and other officials as more senior than they actually are.

The meeting focused on three priority areas: protecting Christian communities in Nigeria's Middle Belt, holding perpetrators accountable through stronger judicial and security institutions, and military-to-military cooperation. Nigeria's efforts to tackle terrorism have been ongoing, with the country's government making significant strides in prosecuting terror suspects and recruiting more police officers. However, the US has pointed out that Nigeria's internal challenges, including corruption and human rights abuses, remain significant barriers to delisting from the Country of Particular Concern list.

The US-Nigeria Joint Working Group has been a key platform for discussing counterterrorism efforts, including the protection of vulnerable communities, intelligence sharing, and military cooperation. However, the US has made it clear that Nigeria's efforts to tackle terrorism are far from over.

Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, said the meeting was aimed at evaluating progress in bilateral counterterrorism efforts and charting the next phase of security collaboration. Odumegwu-Ojukwu highlighted the importance of strengthening Nigeria-US defence cooperation, improving IDP protection, intelligence coordination, tackling terror financing, and effective border control measures.

The US government has reaffirmed its commitment to working with Nigeria to protect Christian communities and deepen joint security cooperation. However, the Nigerian government's efforts to tackle terrorism remain significant, and the US has made it clear that more work lies ahead.

Key Facts:

  • Nigeria has prosecuted hundreds of terror suspects since the first meeting in January 2026
  • The country has recruited 50000 police officers to bolster its security efforts
  • The US has criticized Nigeria's handling of IDP resettlement and transparency in humanitarian spending
  • The US has reaffirmed its commitment to working with Nigeria to protect Christian communities and deepen joint security cooperation
  • The US-Nigeria Joint Working Group has been reviewing progress in the counterterrorism efforts since the first meeting in Abuja in January 2026

And in related news, Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, posted about the meeting, saying it was one to "evaluate progress in bilateral counterterrorism efforts and chart the next phase of security collaboration." Odumegwu-Ojukwu highlighted the importance of strengthening Nigeria-US defence cooperation, improving IDP protection, intelligence coordination, tackling terror financing, and effective border control measures.

The Nigerian government's efforts to tackle terrorism remain significant, and the US has made it clear that more work lies ahead. Nigeria's internal challenges, including corruption and human rights abuses, remain significant barriers to delisting from the Country of Particular Concern list.