Nigeria and the United States have formally inaugurated the Defence Institutional Technical Working Groups (DITWGs) in Abuja as part of the 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap. This initiative aims to bolster collaborative efforts in addressing terrorism, insecurity, and regional instability.
U.S. Delegation Highlights Institutional Capacity
The head of the U.S. delegation, Mr. Cate Dave, stated that the initiative supports strategic planning to strengthen institutional capacity and deny terrorists safe havens. A statement by the Director Defence Information, Maj-Gen. Samaila Uba, noted that Dave emphasized the link between institutional development and effective counter-terrorism operations.
Nigerian Delegation Priorities
Air Vice Marshal Francis Edosa, team leader of the Nigerian delegation, highlighted the importance of the partnership in tackling evolving security threats across Nigeria and the broader region. Edosa noted that priorities include support to strengthen the warfighting capabilities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and sharpen its responsiveness to ultimately restore enduring peace and normalcy across the country.
Both sides stressed the need for practical outcomes, accountability, and sustained collaboration to enhance security and regional stability.
Maritime Security Cooperation
The Nigerian Navy emphasized that sustained collaboration with international partners, particularly the U.S., remains critical to advancing maritime security objectives. This partnership provides opportunities for capacity building, technical support, and intelligence exchange necessary to address evolving maritime threats.
Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha, stressed the importance of cooperation when he received the U.S. Congressional Delegation (CODEL) to Western Naval Command Headquarters in Lagos, led by Adam Barker. Mustapha highlighted the command’s critical role in safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime domain and supporting security initiatives in the Gulf of Guinea.
Mustapha noted that the Regional Maritime Awareness Capacity (RMAC) played a key role in defeating piracy on Nigerian waters in 2022, leading the International Maritime Bureau to remove the country from its piracy list. RMAC also enhanced the Navy’s capacity to combat sea robbery, crude oil theft, and other illegal maritime activities, making trade routes safer.
U.S. Commendation and Future Cooperation
Barker commended the Nigerian Navy’s proactive approach to maritime security and reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to continued cooperation, particularly in strengthening maritime awareness and enhancing collective security frameworks in the Gulf of Guinea. The delegation toured the RMAC Complex and received a comprehensive operational brief on its capabilities and contributions to regional maritime security.
Last year, Nigeria and the U.S. established a Joint Working Group to deepen security cooperation, focusing on counter-terrorism and protecting vulnerable communities following high-level meetings in Washington, D.C. in November 2025.
