The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, states that the letter from United States President Donald J. Trump to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a clear recognition of the significant strides Nigeria has made in combating terrorism and insurgency.
Speaking during a live broadcast on National Television on Wednesday in Abuja, Ambassador Enikanolaiye said the letter validates the gallant efforts of the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies in confronting the security challenges facing the country.
“The letter we just got is in recognition of the giant strides we have made in tackling the menace of terrorism and insurgency in our country,” the Minister of State said. “It is in recognition of the gallant efforts of the Nigerian Armed Forces together with other security agencies handling the situation. This is not just a letter of commendation. It is a commitment to stand with Nigeria. It means our men and women in uniform will now have more skills, tools, and intelligence to protect our homeland and secure our citizens, especially communities that have been under attack,” he stated.
He noted that in the last couple of weeks, there has been noticeable improvement in Nigeria’s efforts. “We have had significant successes recorded, not just the several cases of prosecution and conviction of hardened criminals, of terrorists, of bandits in our country. We have also succeeded in neutralizing a large number of them. We have succeeded in disrupting their communication network.”
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs recalled the recent rescue of young innocent children in Oyo State as a direct result of improved operations. “What has happened is that we have had greater collaboration with the U.S. We have had greater exchange of intelligence. We have greater involvement in terms of training and capacity building, including equipment supplies. All of these, particularly the political will that Mr. President has demonstrated, led to these significant successes that we have recorded.” He added that President Trump is “simply acknowledging this and encouraging us to do more.”
On concrete areas of collaboration, Ambassador Enikanolaiye said Nigeria is seeking deeper partnership in intelligence, equipment supplies and platforms, modern technology, capacity building, and training. He referenced the existing Joint Working Group on Nigeria as a Country of Concern, chaired by the National Security Adviser, describing it as a diplomatic framework for dialogue, consultation and negotiation.
“The idea is to provide a framework for diplomacy, for negotiation, to intensify our quest for intelligence, our quest for equipment supplies, platforms, our quest for the use of modern technology that will assist us, our quest for capacity building and training. Those are the areas in which America has partnered with us and we look forward to intensifying this partnership.”
“We are in a new era of partnership,” he said, “a partnership that addresses the essential concerns of Nigerians in terms of security, in terms of terrorism and all of those. That is the basis of this engagement with the United States.”
Drawing from his previous position as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations, the Minister of State disclosed that the letter is also an acknowledgement of President Tinubu’s own correspondence on the matter, following consultations between the two leaders in the last two years.
Reacting to what Nigerians should expect in the coming months, Ambassador Enikanolaiye said the improvement in Nigeria’s security architecture will be straightforward and visible. “We need to see, you are going to see more arrests and prosecution. We are going to see more of the capacity of the Nigerian Armed Forces and security agencies to disrupt operations, to deal more decisively with the terrorists and bandits. And then, even at the level of psychological warfare, we want to instil confidence in Nigerians that security is improving and that Mr. President is committed to ensuring that there is this atmosphere of security and peace that will guarantee that Nigerians can go about their normal business without let or hindrance.”
Responding to how the development fits into the Tinubu administration’s foreign policy agenda, the Minister of State said the 4D Foreign Policy doctrine of Demography, Democracy, Development, and Diaspora has prioritized Demography, which is the core, the Nigerian people. “Nigerian people, in terms of their security, are defined as human security that addresses all their concerns. And to the fact that whatever we do in foreign policy addresses the concerns of Nigerians. Do not forget, the primary duty of government is the promotion of welfare, security and protection of Nigeria.”
The letter is a major diplomatic win for Nigeria. It cements a defence partnership with the world’s most powerful military, brings elite training and intelligence to the fight against terrorism, and boosts Nigeria’s profile as West Africa’s indispensable security partner.
For the Tinubu administration, it provides external validation of the Renewed Hope Agenda and the 4D Foreign Policy, especially the link between security and development. If followed by delivery on the Defence Cooperation Roadmap, the impact will be safer communities, higher investor confidence, and more room for economic growth and development.
The Minister reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting all citizens regardless of faith or region and to making the Federal Republic of Nigeria stronger and more prosperous.
Signed:
Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, anipr
Spokesperson
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja
Thursday 23, July 2026
