Tinubu receive US military delegation to strengthen security collaboration (Photos)

President Bola Tinubu on Sunday received a high-level delegation from the United States, U.S., led by the Commander of the United States Africa Command, USAFRICOM, as both countries strengthen security collaboration.

According to a statement issued by the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, the meeting was held at the State House in Abuja.

Tinubu received the delegation in the company of his National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the service chiefs.

The visiting team comprised the Commander of USAFRICOM, General Dagvin R. Anderson, members of his entourage, and the Charge d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, Keith Heffern.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, alongside his National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and service chiefs, received in Audience the Commander of General Dagvin Anderson, his team, and the Charge d’Affaires U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, Keith Heffern, at the State House,” the statement reads.

The engagement comes shortly after a small contingent of U.S. troops was deployed to Nigeria on February 3 — the first officially acknowledged American military presence on Nigerian soil since airstrikes targeted terrorist locations in the country on Christmas Day 2025.

The latest move follows December 2025 airstrikes ordered by President Donald Trump against what he termed Islamic State targets, with signals that further actions could be undertaken if necessary.

Before the troop deployment, the U.S. had been conducting surveillance operations over Nigeria from neighbouring Ghana since November 2025, supplying intelligence support ahead of the December 2025 strikes.

General Anderson explained that the new deployment reflects expanding collaboration between the US government and the Nigerian government in addressing escalating terrorist threats across West Africa.

“That has led to increased collaboration between our nations to include a small U.S. team that brings some unique capabilities from the United States,” he said.

While he declined to specify the size or precise functions of the deployed personnel, Anderson noted that the team would enhance Nigeria’s ongoing counterterrorism operations.