US, Nigeria Joint Working Group Discusses Counter-terrorism, Religious Freedom in First Meeting

Nigeria and the United States have held the first meeting of their bilateral working group in response to the redesignation of Nigeria as a ‘country of particular concern’ (CPC) by President Donald Trump.

The US-Nigeria working group held their first meeting in Abuja on Thursday.

On October 31, 2025, Trump re-designated Nigeria a country of particular concern in response to allegations of a Christian genocide in the country, a claim the Nigerian government had repeatedly denied.

The following month, Trump threatened to go into Nigeria “guns-a-blazing to wipe out the terrorists killing our Christians”.

On Christmas Day, the US launched air strikes against two terrorist enclaves in Bauni forest in Tangaza LGA, Sokoto state.

A CPC designation often triggers policy options designed to bring about cessation of the particularly severe violations of religious freedom.

A slew of travel bans have since trailed the October announcement.

Nigeria promised to engage with the US government on the matter.

THE THURSDAY MEETING

Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser (NSA), led the Nigerian delegation comprising 10 ministries and agencies, while Allison Hooker, under-secretary of state, headed the US team of eight federal agencies at the meeting.

A statement issued by the US mission after the meeting said the objectives of the working group are to reduce violence against vulnerable groups in Nigeria, particularly Christians, and to create a conducive atmosphere for all Nigerians to freely practise their faith, unimpeded by those who seek to inflict harm.

“Strategic discussions at the session focused on a wide range of issues and challenges where U.S.-Nigeria cooperation will improve religious freedom and bolster security across the country,” the statement reads.

“The U.S. side welcomed an overview of Nigeria’s realignment of resources to address insecurity, particularly in the North Central states.

“The two governments reiterated their strong and unflinching commitment to upholding the principles of religious freedom and the need, therefore, to take joint active, sustained measures to promote and protect the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and freedom of religion or belief for all in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The US mission said both sides committed to further strengthening counter-terrorism cooperation, including by working together through operational cooperation, access to technology, anti-money laundering, countering the financing of terrorism and building law enforcement and investigative capacity.