Despite voicing disappointment with the U.S. government’s latest classification of Nigeria as a “Country of Concern,” the Federal Government says it remains open to closer defence and intelligence cooperation with Washington and other partners.
Minister of Information Mohammed Idris made this known to journalists during a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, November 5.
He stated that Nigeria continues to value its partnership with the United States, crediting bilateral cooperation for the delivery of twelve Super Tucano aircraft and the pending acquisition of a dozen AH‑1Z Viper attack helicopters for the Nigerian Air Force.
“We are partners in the fight against global terrorism,” Idris said, adding that,“We only ask that our friends approach Nigeria’s situation with understanding of our complex realities — a vast, multi‑religious and multi‑ethnic nation making real progress.”
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The Minister noted that the instability in the wider Sahel region, worsened by the collapse of Libya and illicit weapon flows, demands regional and multinational alliances.
He reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to working within ECOWAS and the African Union, alongside allies like the U.S., to “cut off the transnational lifelines of terrorism.”
Idris assured that President Bola Tinubu’s administration values all opportunities for “trust‑based collaboration and mutual respect” to secure Nigeria’s people and borders.
“We welcome constructive engagement, not confrontation. Together, we can eliminate terrorism from Nigerian soil,” he said.