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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson, has said a collaborative between Nigeria and the United States of America ( USA) is imperative to address security and other challenges in the country.
Benson, who stated this, in a statement, after an engagement between senior US official and some Nigerian lawmakers, said the. parley reinforced the fact that there would be mutual benefits if the two countries work together.
Recall the US President Donald Trump recently threatened a military action in Nigeria, over alleged Christian genocide in the country.
However, Benson noted that during the engagement between US officials and Nigerian parliamentarians, there was a consensus on the need to expand the US support for Nigeria’s war against insurgency..
According to him, “On 19 November 2025, I led a team of relevant committee chairmen to meet a United States delegation led by Ms. Cassandra Carraway and Mr. Mark Handloff.
“This followed the 13 August 2025 consultations with the military-political adviser at the U.S. Embassy, also involving Mr. Handloff, and the earlier 15 December 2024 dialogue with the U.S. congressional delegation led by Rep. John James, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, alongside Reps. Young Kim, Sara Jacobs, Jonathan Jackson, and officials of the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria led by Amb. Richard Mills Jr
“Taken together, these engagements reaffirm our enduring partnership and a shared commitment to peace, stability and prosperity in Nigeria. Rep. James has consistently reiterated the U.S. government’s dedication to supporting Nigeria through both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches.
“At the close of our most recent discussions, both sides agreed on the need to deepen trust, expand U.S. support for Nigeria’s fight against insurgency, strengthen human-rights protections, and enhance legislative diplomacy between our two nations.
“Our vision for Nigeria-United Sates relations is one in which the global narrative reflects not only our challenges, but also the strength, creativity, and resilience of Nigerian youth, and the bold reforms now underway to restore Nigeria fully to its rightful place as the giant of Africa”.
Benson added that “What our engagements with U.S. officials have consistently affirmed is that cooperation, collaboration, and constructive partnership are the most effective tools for addressing our security concerns, deepening our democracy, and protecting human rights.
“We remain open to honest dialogue, fair criticism, and mutual accountability—but always within a framework of respect, partnership, and shared strategic interests. These are the surest pathways to a more peaceful, more stable, and more prosperous Nigeria, in a manner that advances the long-term interests, values, and security of both Nigeria and the United States”.
