Abuja, Nigeria — United States President, Donald Trump, has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his decisive leadership in tackling terrorism, as both countries deepen strategic cooperation to combat insecurity and violent extremism.
In a letter dated July 6, 2026, Trump commended Tinubu’s resolve to address the security challenges confronting Nigeria, particularly persistent attacks on vulnerable communities, describing it as an honour to stand with Nigeria in the fight against terrorism.
The disclosure was contained in a State House press statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The commendation comes amid growing bilateral relations between Abuja and Washington, with both nations strengthening collaboration in key areas such as intelligence sharing, military training, and joint operations aimed at dismantling terrorist networks.
As part of this effort, both leaders had in November last year agreed to establish a Joint Working Group co-headed by the National Security Advisers of Nigeria and the United States. The platform has since enhanced coordination in addressing evolving security threats.
A major breakthrough recorded under the partnership was the May 16 coordinated offensive on ISIS hideouts in the Lake Chad region, which resulted in the killing of a top commander, Abubakar Al-Minoki, alongside several of his lieutenants.
Further signalling deepening ties, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Frank Garcia, recently visited Abuja, where he met with senior Nigerian officials and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to expanding cooperation in security and other areas.
Full text of President Trump’s letter:
“Dear Mr President,
Thank you for your thoughtful letter. Your kind words mean a great deal to me, and I appreciate your decisive leadership on behalf of the Nigerian people. I applaud your resolve to tackle the issues plaguing your nation, especially the violence affecting Christian communities and it is a true honor to stand with you in the fight against terrorists and to make the Federal Republic of Nigeria stronger and more prosperous.
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The United States-Nigeria relationship is crucial at a time where conflict has spread across West Africa and around the world. We both share a mutual goal of confronting terrorism in all its forms, and our historic US-Nigeria 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap has established a robust framework to accomplish this feat.
I am proud to have deployed the United States Special Operations Forces—among the most elite military units anywhere in the world—to equip the brave men and women in the Armed Forces of Nigeria with the skills, tools and intelligence they need to protect your homeland and ensure the safety and security of citizens, particularly those of faith who have been under attack. I look forward to our continued discussions over the course of my Presidency.
Sincerely,
Donald J. Trump
President of the United States of America.”If you want, I can tighten the headline further or make it more punchy/political.
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