Defence Minister Musa Meets Top US Army Commander In Abuja, Lists 5 Key Areas For Joint Counter-Terrorism Operation
The Federal Government of Nigeria and the United States of America have deepened their military ties with a fresh strategic alliance aimed at combating terrorism and insurgency in the country, particularly in the North-East and Lake Chad Basin region.
This was disclosed on Wednesday in Abuja when the Honourable Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd) OFR, received Major General Matthew Brown, Commander of the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), who was on an official working visit to the Ministry of Defence.
The high-level meeting, which was held at the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Abuja, aimed to review ongoing joint security initiatives between both countries and formulate a more result-oriented strategic framework for future defence collaboration.
Speaking during the visit, General Musa reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deepening military relations with the United States, particularly in the area of counter-terrorism operations and intelligence sharing.
Expressing appreciation to the U.S. government for its sustained partnership and support over the years, General Musa noted that collaborative security operations in the North East, particularly around the Lake Chad Basin, have significantly boosted troop morale and yielded positive results in the fight against Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists.
To build on these gains, the Minister highlighted five key priority areas for enhanced cooperation between Nigeria and the US. They include: Specialized joint training for Special Forces, Intelligence sharing and capacity building, Enhanced border surveillance and security, Counter-Improvised Explosive Devices (C-IED) support, and Modernisation of defence infrastructure to strengthen local capacity.
According to the Minister, strengthening these areas will not only degrade the capability of terrorist groups but will also enhance Nigeria’s ability to secure its borders and protect its citizens.
In his remarks, Major General Matthew Brown extended early Independence Day felicitations to Nigeria ahead of the October 1st celebration and expressed gratitude for the decades-long military-to-military relationship that continues to advance common security objectives between both nations.
He specifically highlighted successful counter-terrorism engagements against ISIS-affiliated groups in Africa and commended Nigerian troops involved in various operations for their bravery and professionalism.
Reaffirming the nature of U.S. engagements in the region following the departure of the soldiers that formed part of the Combined Special Task Force that operated in the Bauchi area, Major General Brown emphasised that U.S. military activities in Nigeria are temporary and focused on institutional support and collaboration, not permanent basing.
Describing the bilateral relationship as strategic and grounded in mutual trust, Major General Brown stated that the primary goal of his visit was to gain a direct understanding of Nigeria’s defence priorities in order to align broader U.S. support and strengthen ongoing bilateral intelligence sharing.
The meeting is coming at a time when Nigeria is intensifying efforts to completely defeat terrorism and banditry across the country, with the Defence Minister recently vowing to bring lasting peace to all troubled regions.
The press release was signed by Leah Katung-Babatunde, Special Assistant (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Defence, on September 30, 2026.
