The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson, has emphasised the need for deeper, more strategic cooperation between Nigeria and the United States, arguing that strengthened bilateral engagement is essential to addressing Nigeria’s evolving security landscape.
Speaking in Abuja on Saturday, Benson—who represents the Ikorodu Federal Constituency of Lagos State—reflected on a series of recent high-level engagements with senior US officials. He said the discussions reaffirmed a central point: both nations stand to benefit from a more closely coordinated partnership, particularly as Nigeria continues to confront threats ranging from terrorism and banditry to maritime insecurity.
According to a statement issued on Saturday, Benson recalled leading a delegation of key committee chairpersons to meet a US team on 19 November 2025, headed by Cassandra Carraway and Mark Handloff. This meeting followed earlier consultations on 13 August 2025 with the military-political adviser at the US Embassy—also involving Handloff—and a prior dialogue on 15 December 2024 with a congressional delegation led by Representative John James, Chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee. The visiting delegation also included Reps. Young Kim, Sara Jacobs, and Jonathan Jackson, as well as senior officials from the US Embassy in Nigeria, led by Ambassador Richard Mills Jr.
Benson said these engagements highlight “an enduring partnership and a shared commitment to peace, stability, and prosperity in Nigeria.” He noted that Rep James had repeatedly affirmed Washington’s willingness to support Nigeria through both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies, reflecting the broad scope of cooperation required to tackle contemporary security threats.
Both sides, he added, agreed on the need to deepen trust, expand US assistance in counter-insurgency operations, reinforce human rights safeguards, and strengthen legislative diplomacy as a mechanism for long-term collaboration.
Articulating a broader vision for bilateral relations, Benson said Nigeria seeks a partnership in which the global narrative reflects not only the challenges the country faces but also “the strength, creativity, and resilience of Nigerian youth, and the bold reforms underway to restore Nigeria to its rightful place as the giant of Africa.”
He stressed that Nigeria stands to gain more from constructive engagement than from condemnation or adversarial rhetoric, especially at a time of ongoing democratic consolidation. “Our interactions with US officials have consistently shown that cooperation and mutual respect remain the most effective tools for tackling security threats, advancing democratic governance, and upholding human rights,” he said.
Nigeria, he added, remains open to honest dialogue, fair criticism, and mutual accountability—provided such exchanges are anchored in shared interests and long-term stability.
Security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States spans decades and has evolved in response to emerging threats, including terrorism, piracy, and transnational organised crime. Key areas of collaboration now include counterterrorism support, military training, equipment and intelligence assistance, and maritime security operations in the Gulf of Guinea.
As Nigeria continues to navigate complex security challenges, Benson said, reinforcing the bilateral framework with the US will remain a strategic priority for the National Assembly and the defence sector.
