President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday, February 8, received a high-level United States military delegation at the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock, Abuja, in a meeting that underscores the strengthening security ties between Nigeria and the United States.
The delegation was led by the Commander of the United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM), General Dagvin R. Anderson. Also present were the Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, Mr. Keith Heffern, alongside other senior U.S. military and diplomatic officials.
President Tinubu welcomed the visitors at the State House in the company of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, as well as Nigeria’s service chiefs. The meeting was held behind closed doors, and specific details of the discussions were not made public.
The visit was confirmed in a statement issued by the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Mr. Dada Olusegun, who noted that the President formally received General Anderson, members of his delegation, and the U.S. envoy at the Presidential Villa.
Although the substance of the talks remains undisclosed, the engagement comes at a time of deepening military and security cooperation between both countries, particularly in the areas of counterterrorism, intelligence sharing, and regional stability.
The meeting also follows reports that the United States recently deployed a small team of troops to Nigeria on February 3. The deployment marked the first officially acknowledged U.S. military presence in the country since airstrikes were carried out against terrorist positions on Christmas Day 2025.
Observers say the visit highlights Nigeria’s strategic role in West Africa and reflects ongoing bilateral efforts to address security challenges, including terrorism, insurgency, and transnational crime.
