Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Sunday, 8 February 2026, received a delegation from the United States at the State House in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, in a meeting focused on security engagement between both countries.
A statement shared by Dada Olusegun, Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, said the president welcomed the visitors alongside Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and senior service chiefs.
The statement said the delegation was led by General Dagvin R. Anderson, Commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), the United States military command responsible for American military operations and partnerships across Africa. It added that the delegation also included Keith Heffern, the Charge d’Affaires at the United States Embassy in Nigeria, and other officials attached to AFRICOM.
The meeting took place at the State House complex, commonly called Aso Rock, where Nigeria’s president works and receives official visitors.
Photographs and accompanying details released by the State House listed several Nigerian officials present, including Mohammed Mohammed, Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and Tosin Ajayi, Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS). Also named were Garric M. Banfield, a Command Sergeant Major and Command Senior Enlisted Leader at AFRICOM, and Ambassador Peter Vrooman, described as AFRICOM’s Senior Foreign Policy Adviser.
The names and titles listed in the same State House details also included General Christopher Musa (Retired), described as Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Olufemi Oluyede, described as Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, described as Chief of Army Staff, and Lieutenant General Emmanuel Uandiandeye, described as Chief of Defence Intelligence.
The meeting came after reports that the United States deployed a small team of troops to Nigeria on Tuesday, 3 February 2026, which was described as the first official United States military presence on the ground in the country since airstrikes targeting terrorist positions on Thursday, 25 December 2025 (Christmas Day).
The reports linked the December airstrikes to an order by United States President Donald Trump, who said the strikes hit “Islamic State targets” and indicated that further military steps could follow.
The reports also said that before the deployment, the United States had been conducting surveillance flights over Nigeria from neighbouring Ghana, a West African country, since at least November 2025, providing intelligence support ahead of the December strikes.
General Anderson said the reported deployment reflected closer cooperation between the United States and Nigeria against terrorist threats affecting West Africa, the part of Africa where Nigeria is located.
“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.
He did not state the size of the team or give specific operational details, but said it would support Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts.