RIBADU, US ENVOY DISCUSS SECURITY COOPERATION

National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, on Monday received a high-level United States delegation led by the newly confirmed Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Frank Garcia, as part of efforts to deepen security cooperation between both countries.

Garcia’s visit to Abuja is his first to Nigeria since he was sworn into office on June 1, 2026, and forms part of a wider tour of West Africa that will also take him to Côte d’Ivoire and Mali between July 11 and 18.

Ribadu, in a post on X, said the meeting reviewed progress made under the Nigeria-US Joint Working Group and reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to closer dialogue and cooperation on mutual security priorities.

“In consolidating the gains of our partnership with the United States, I received a high-level delegation led by the new Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Frank Garcia, on his first official visit to Nigeria since assuming office.

“My meeting with them strengthened the strong and enduring Nigeria–US partnership and assessed progress under the Joint Working Group, restating our shared commitment to deeper dialogue, cooperation and mutual security priorities,” he said.

A 28-year veteran of the US Navy, Garcia previously served as a senior adviser to the chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and as staff director for the Defence Intelligence and Overhead Architecture Subcommittee, before his confirmation to the State Department role.

His appointment ended a vacancy in the Africa post that had lasted more than a year, with the position previously held by a string of acting officials.