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Nigeria, US Intensify Strategic Cooperation on Security Matters

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Nigeria, US Intensify Strategic Cooperation on Security Matters

Nigeria and the United States have enhanced their strategic defense and security partnership, with a focus on intelligence sharing, military-to-military relations, operational coordination and counterterrorism.

The engagement, which occurred during the second meeting of the US-Nigeria Joint Working Group, which took place on 12 and 13 August 2026, focused on improving the shared security architecture between the two countries.

A high-level Nigerian delegation led by Gen Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd) held a strategic meeting at the Pentagon with senior officials of the U.S Department of War. The statement was signed by Leah Katung-Babatunde, Special Adviser to the Minister on Media.

Read Also: UN Women Raises Awareness Drive on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Laws

The Nigerian delegation was made up of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele; General Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Defense Staff; Lieutenant General Parker Udiandeye, Chief of Defense Intelligence and other senior officers of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

The talks, led by Julia Sokol, Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for International Security Affairs, were a continuation of the United States – Nigeria Joint Working Group Defense Bilateral Talks, and were focused on shared security architecture, intelligence cooperation and operational synergies.

The overall diplomatic mission was headed by the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, while the Joint Working Group was co-chaired by Ribadu and Allison Hooker, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs of the United States.

Discussions also addressed operational progress and strategic frameworks following Nigeria’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to sustained dialog, mutual respect and strategic cooperation in the face of global and regional security threats.

The engagement places intelligence cooperation and closer operational coordination at the heart of Nigeria’s efforts to deepen its strategic security relationship with the United States, especially as both countries seek stronger mechanisms to confront terrorism and other common threats.

UN Women Raises Awareness Drive on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Laws

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UN Women Raises Awareness Drive on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Laws

According to a recent assessment by UN Women, empowering citizens and holding authorities accountable requires widespread awareness of sexual and gender-based violence legislation.

Beatrice Eyong, UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, made this known in Abuja at a press conference ahead of Olubumi Uluba’s planned 220-hour Guinness World Record attempt to read aloud SGBV laws, frameworks and legal instruments from 15 African countries, including Nigeria.

The advocacy initiative is aimed at raising public awareness of laws and policies addressing SGBV while encouraging stronger implementation, legal literacy and cross-country learning in the fight against violence.

Explaining why UN Women is supporting the initiative, Eyong said people who were unaware of their legal rights could not effectively demand justice.

“This marathon is very, very important because if you don’t know the laws, if you don’t know what has been written about sexual and gender-based violence, you cannot assert your rights,” she said.

According to her, the same challenge applies to duty-bearers responsible for implementing laws and policies, noting that although African countries had made commitments through international and regional instruments, including protocols addressing women’s rights and gender-based violence, challenges remained in domestication and implementation.

Eyong stressed that the initiative would therefore help bring greater attention to existing legal frameworks while creating an opportunity for African countries to learn from one another.

She explained that the campaign would also help highlight areas where countries could improve their legal and institutional responses by examining best practices across jurisdictions.

“The significance of the initiative goes beyond Nigeria and the participating African countries because of the international attention expected from the record attempt. It has not been done before,” she said, adding that “the initiative could take the conversation about SGBV laws to a global audience.”

The UN Women representative also warned against treating gender-based violence as merely a private or social matter, stressing its wider impact on national development.

“Studies had shown that gender-based violence could have significant economic consequences, including reducing a country’s gross domestic product. It’s not just a social thing. It’s not just a health thing. It’s not just something that happens in the home. It is something that affects who we are, affects how others look at us, and affects our economic growth,” Eyong said.

She further emphasised that SGBV was not exclusively a women’s issue, noting that men and boys could also be victims.“It’s not just for women, it’s for men. And it’s not just for classes of women,” she said.

Dr. Abiodun Eseyat said the government would leverage the campaign to strengthen community engagement, SGBV prevention and survivor support. She emphasised public awareness of legal protections and urged traditional and religious leaders to help educate communities.

Eseyat also disclosed efforts to strengthen Sexual Assault Referral Centres, improve survivor support, review the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, and encourage the National Assembly to fast-track gender-related legislation.

Osun Poll: Security Personnel Descend on Assembly Speaker’s Home

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Osun Poll: Security Personnel Descend on Assembly Speaker’s Home

The Imole Campaign Council (TICC) has raised an alarm over the heavy deployment of armed security operatives to the residence of the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbedun, early this morning.

In a statement by its Spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, TICC alleged that security operatives arrived at the Speaker’s residence in more than 10 black Hilux vehicles and have surrounded the premises.

According to the council, the security operatives have sealed off the residence, with everyone inside reportedly prevented from leaving.

“We have received reports that the residence of the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbedun, has been surrounded by armed security personnel who reportedly arrived in more than 10 black Hilux vehicles.

“We have also been informed that the residence has effectively been sealed off, with everyone inside reportedly prevented from leaving the premises,” TICC stated.

It stressed that it had not independently confirmed the purpose of the security deployment, saying it remained unclear whether the operatives were deployed to provide security or were carrying out routine official duties.

The campaign council of Governor Ademola Adeleke called on the relevant security agencies to immediately explain the reason for the deployment and clarify reports that movement in and out of the Speaker’s residence had been restricted.

According to the TICC, it attempted to contact the publicly available official telephone line of the Commissioner of Police responsible for the election, but the calls were not answered.

It added that calls were also made to the publicly provided contact line of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the election, but there was no response.

The council further said it attempted to reach the Police Situation Room, but the publicly provided telephone number was reportedly switched off.

It added: “On this Election Day, the people of Osun State deserve an atmosphere free from fear and intimidation.

“Security deployments must inspire confidence and protect the integrity of the electoral process.”

While urging security authorities to provide an immediate explanation, it stressed that, “the people of Osun State must be allowed to come out peacefully and decide their future according to their own conscience, without intimidation or interference.”

South Africa Knock Nigeria Out of FIFA World Cup Race

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South Africa Knock Nigeria Out of FIFA World Cup Race

Banyana Banyana of South Africa ended Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil as they beat the Super Falcons 2-1 in their CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations play-off match.

Banyana Banyana were already out of WAFCON contention before the semi-finals but put up a hard fight against the Super Falcons to inch closer to a spot at the global showpiece.

South Africa threatened first in the seventh minute with a shot from distance by Linda Motlhalo, but the effort went over the crossbar. Nigeria replied three minutes later when Rasheedat Ajibade’s shot from outside the penalty area drifted wide of the target.

South Africa Crush Nigeria’s FIFA World Cup Hopes

The first half was a fiercely fought contest, with both sides fighting for control but unable to find the breakthrough before the interval.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 56th minute when South Africa launched a quick counter-attack. Hildah Magaia delivered the last pass to Thembi Kgatlana, who kept her cool to slot the ball home and give Banyana Banyana the lead.

Moments later Kgatlana almost doubled South Africa’s advantage but her close-range effort was kept out.

Nigeria kept probing for a reply and almost found one in the 75th minute when Kaylin Swart came up with a Woman of the Match performance to thwart Uchenna Kanu’s header after she rose highest to meet a cross.

South Africa struck again, just a minute later. Refiloe Jane struck a loose ball in the box and fired a shot thru a packed penalty area to make it 2-0.

Banyana Banyana almost got a third just after the restart, but Magaia couldn’t keep her effort down after meeting a delightful delivery into the area.
With defeat staring them in the face Nigeria threw more men forward in search of a route back into the contest, and were rewarded deep into stoppage time. After a VAR review, the Super Falcons were awarded a penalty when Jane had been adjudged to have handled the ball inside the area.

The South African midfielder was dismissed after a second yellow card and Christy Ucheibe, on as a substitute, calmly converted from the spot.

Nigeria pushed for a dramatic equalizer in the final seconds, but South Africa held firm to secure a memorable win and keep their FIFA Women’s World Cup hopes alive.

The result sees Banyana Banyana advance to the next stage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification pathway where they will continue their quest for a place at the global finals in Brazil in 2027.

South Africa Ends Nigeria’s FIFA World Cup Hopes

For the first time in the history of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Nigeria’s Super Falcons will not be in the mix when next year’s tournament is played in Brazil.

South Africa’s goalkeeper Kaylin Swart stands against the Super Falcons and victory in their FIFA World Cup playoff game in Casablanca, the only way left for both teams to continue the race to Brazil thru the Inter-Confederations Playoff phases.

Brazil Launches Response to New US Tariffs

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Brazil Launches Response to New US Tariffs

The Brazilian government has begun a process that could result in reciprocal measures against the United States in response to the tariffs recently imposed by Washington on Brazilian goods.

Relations between the two countries continue to deteriorate, and the government on Thursday said the first step would be to seek further diplomatic consultations with U.S. trade officials.

Brazil described the US tariffs as “unjustified and arbitrary” and said it would continue to defend its position thru all appropriate channels.

The United States imposed tariffs of 25% on some Brazilian products in July, citing alleged unfair trade practices. It also imposed 12.5 per cent tariffs on goods from several countries, including Brazil, citing weak enforcement of restrictions on forced labor.

Earlier, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva vowed to take whatever steps are needed to apply the country’s Reciprocity Law, which allows for retaliatory measures beyond tariffs on US imports.

Brazilian authorities have warned that such measures could disrupt supply chains and stoke domestic inflation.

Sources said the government was considering options including restrictions on US audiovisual companies and suspension of pharmaceutical and farm patents.

North Korea Warns of Strong Response to US-South Korea Drills

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North Korea Warns of Strong Response to US-South Korea Drills

North Korea has condemned upcoming military exercises by the US and South Korea, saying they are more provocative than last year’s drills, state media said.

Pyongyang has accused Washington, Seoul and Tokyo of turning their military cooperation into a nuclear alliance and warned it would boost its deterrence capabilities in response to what it sees as a threat.

The annual Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercises will take place between Aug. 17-27. The drills will involve training to counter drone operations, GPS interference and cyberattacks, reflecting concerns about North Korea’s advancing military capabilities.

The Unification Ministry in Seoul said the statement was Pyongyang’s first official reaction to this year’s exercises. North Korea has repeatedly condemned the exercises, accusing them of escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

Pyongyang also pledged to strengthen its nuclear deterrent, saying the United States had adopted a nuclear strategy that could lower the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons.

North Korea says the alleged US strategy could push international security toward the risk of nuclear conflict. It also condemned US nuclear cooperation with South Korea and its extended-deterrence commitments to Japan.

The latest warning comes after North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward waters off the Korean Peninsula’s eastern coast Wednesday.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missile was fired from the Wonsan area, about six days after another ballistic missile was launched from the same location.

U.S. Mission Announces New Consul General for Lagos

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U.S. Mission Announces New Consul General for Lagos

The United States Mission in Nigeria has announced the appointment of Brandon Hudspeth as the new Consul General at the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos.

Hudspeth begins a three-year assignment as the senior U.S. government official overseeing 17 states in southern Nigeria. He replaces Rick Swart, who retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in July.

A career diplomat and member of the U.S. Senior Foreign Service, Hudspeth is returning to Lagos for a second tour, having previously served as Political-Economic Section Chief at the consulate from 2020 to 2022.
“I am honored to return to Lagos as the U.S. Consul General,” said Hudspeth.

I know firsthand the strength of the U.S.-Nigeria partnership, and the extraordinary energy, ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit that Nigerians and Americans share.

“I look forward to reconnecting with old friends, forging new partnerships and working with Nigerians to expand trade and investment, promote innovation and enhance cooperation in the technology and creative industries,” he said.

He said the efforts would create new opportunities and drive shared prosperity between Nigeria and the United States.

Read Also: Food Aid Crisis: South Sudan Refugees Face Imminent Cutbacks

Hudspeth has nearly two decades of diplomatic experience in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Washington.
Before his assignment in Lagos, he served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Windhoek, Namibia.

His previous assignments include Director of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement at the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines, where he directed U.S. civilian assistance programs to support law enforcement, rule of law, counter-narcotics efforts, and maritime security cooperation.
He was also Political-Economic Section Chief in Bamako, Mali; Nonimmigrant Visa Chief in Havana, Cuba and Political-Military Officer in Kabul, Afghanistan.

In Washington, D.C., Hudspeth has served in the State Department’s Operations Center, on the Secretariat Staff supporting the Secretary of State, and as a Desk Officer in the Bureau of African Affairs.

Hudspeth is from Texas and holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Economics from Morehouse College. He also earned a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School and a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University, where he was a Distinguished Graduate.

His new assignment, the U.S. Mission said, would serve to further strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between Nigeria and the United States.

Food Aid Crisis: South Sudan Refugees Face Imminent Cutbacks

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Food Aid Crisis: South Sudan Refugees Face Imminent Cutbacks

More than 650,000 refugees and asylum seekers in South Sudan could be cut off from food aid in the coming weeks because of a severe funding gap, the UN said on Friday.

South Sudan was facing one of the world’s worst hunger crises with more than 7.8 million people – over half the population – suffering from acute food insecurity and 2.2 million children acutely malnourished, the World Food Program (WFP) and UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said.

South Sudan also receives around 3,000 refugees and returnees weekly from neighboring Sudan, where a conflict that began in 2023 has caused one of the world’s largest displacement crises.

The UN agencies said unless urgent funding is secured the last food distributions for the most vulnerable 240,000 refugees in South Sudan are expected in September.

The 240,000 are the last refugees still on food aid, which has already been reduced to half rations as WFP cut back on assistance due to funding constraints.

This is not a future scenario. “Sadly, that is a reality that will be within weeks,” WFP Deputy Country Director in South Sudan, Adham Effendi, told reporters in Juba.

UNHCR Deputy Representative Mesfin Degefu said that without funding, no refugees in South Sudan would receive food assistance from October.

Families are already cutting meals, selling belongings, pulling children out of school and going into debt to survive, Degefu said. Women and children are also more vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.

Some refugees have asked UNHCR to help them facilitate their return to Sudan, although the agency says the conditions there are not safe for return.

WFP needs $37 million to keep refugee operations going from October to December. Effendi said that food assistance for some 180,000 internally displaced people is set to expire from October and that some 600,000 people in famine-risk areas could lose life-saving support by November.

UNHCR said it had received just 28 per cent of the $286 million needed for its operations in South Sudan this year, threatening programs aimed at helping refugees become self-reliant thru farming, vocational training and other livelihood activities.

25,000 Tricycles Registered as BOTMA Strengthens Traffic Safety Measures

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25,000 Tricycles Registered as BOTMA Strengthens Traffic Safety Measures

The Borno State Traffic Management Agency (BOTMA) says it registered about 25,000 tricycles and recruited 300 youths since its establishment in 2020 to boost traffic management and promote safer roads across the state.

The General Manager of BOTMA, Baba Shehu Tijjani told the Voice of Nigeria in Maiduguri in an interview.

Tijjani said the agency was set up to deal with transportation management issues that had arisen from the increased use of tricycles popularly known as Keke NAPEP following the restriction on motorcycles over security concerns in the state.

He said the increasing reliance on tricycles had made it necessary to have a dependable system of registering and identifying owners and operators.

“The increasing reliance on Keke NAPEP makes necessary proper system of registration and identification of owners and operators,” Tijjani said.

He said the agency had registered about 25,000 tricycles operating in the Jere and Maiduguri Local Government Areas.

He said the registration database holds information on owners and operators, their residential areas and next of kin.

“The database has been useful in tracing lost property and supporting investigations into complaints and allegations involving tricycle operators,” said Tijjani.

He said the database has proved useful when a passenger reports losing something inside a tricycle, and also in cases involving allegations against operators.

He said the Borno State Government, under Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, further empowered the agency by approving the recruitment of 300 youths.

The recruits, he said, were trained in a police college before deployment and the government also provided operational vehicles to improve their effectiveness.

Read Also: SEC Orders Asset Freeze on Six Individuals, Three Companies Over Terror Financing

“The recruitment has boosted our manpower and at the same time created jobs for our youths in the state,” he said.

Tijjani expressed optimism that continued improvement in the security situation would allow the government to recruit more personnel and extend BOTMA’s operations to additional local government areas.

“The agency also generates revenue for the state and runs regular media sensitization programs to educate residents on traffic regulations and responsible road use,” he said.

The General Manager admitted that BOTMA faced initial resistance from some members of the public due to lack of understanding of its mandate.

“We had difficulties at the beginning because people did not understand us but gradually the public started to understand our work and cooperate with us,” he underlined.

He said traffic offenders were fined and made to pay thru designated banks or Borno state board of internal revenue.

Tijjani also said collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services and Federal Road Safety Corps is key to the agency’s operations.

Legislative Support, Challenges

The general manager said interference by passengers during enforcement operations and attempts by some persons to use personal connections to evade traffic laws are major challenges.

“Social status and connections should be no excuse for breaking traffic laws,” he said.

Tijjani said the Borno State House of Assembly Committee on Transportation had recently visited the agency and commended its work.

He said the committee promised to support BOTMA with higher funding in the proposed 2027 state budget.

Tijjani called on BOTMA staff and the general public to keep cooperating with the agency, stressing that observance of traffic rules was key to ensuring safer and more orderly roads in Borno State.

SEC Orders Asset Freeze on Six Individuals, Three Companies Over Terror Financing

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SEC Orders Asset Freeze on Six Individuals, Three Companies Over Terror Financing

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has asked capital market operators to immediately freeze funds, assets and other economic resources connected to six individuals and three entities designated as terrorist financiers by the Nigeria Sanctions Committee.

This was disclosed in a circular issued to all Capital Market Regulated Entities on Friday. It said the designations were in line with the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.

The six are Babangida Muhammed Adamu Hammajam, Abdullahi Umar Usman, Ibrahim Abubakar, Adamu Chiroma, Muktar Muhammad Adamu and Yakubu Ogirima Ibrahim.

The three entities are Nine to Nine BDC Ltd, Generation Currency BDC Ltd and Abbal Bako and Sons Bureau de Change.

On June 18, 2026, the commission marked Hammajam for sanctions for allegedly engaging in terrorism financing and supporting the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

Usman was named for allegedly providing material support to a designated terrorist organization thru repeated financial transactions.

Read Also: Akwa Ibom Targets Stronger Aviation Sector Through Investment

The SEC said Abubakar was sanctioned for alleged terrorism financing and membership of ISWAP while Chiroma was accused of using Bureau De Change operations and associated corporate entities to facilitate the movement of funds allegedly linked to terrorist activities.

Muktar Muhammad Adamu was listed on June 15 for allegedly providing financial support and facilitating transactions linked to the financing network of the ISWAP Okene cell.

Yakubu Ogirima Ibrahim was also listed for allegedly supplying material and financial aid to the ISWAP Kogi cell.

The three BDC entities were listed for their alleged roles in facilitating and channeling funds associated with the ISWAP Okene financing network.

The SEC directed regulated entities to immediately identify and freeze, without notice, all funds, financial assets and other economic resources of the designated persons and companies.

Operators were also told to report frozen assets, attempted transactions and any other compliance actions to the Secretariat of the Nigeria Sanctions Committee.

The commission also urged operators to file suspicious transaction reports with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit for further probing of the financial transactions involved.

The commission said capital market operators should treat name matches involving the listed individuals and entities as suspicious and report them, regardless of when the transactions took place in relation to receipt of the sanctions list.

Further, the regulated entities were advised to stop dealing with the designated persons and organizations and to undertake ongoing surveillance of transactions involving them.

The SEC said any findings should be forwarded to the Nigeria Sanctions Committee thru its designated reporting channel.

The directive was effective immediately and failure to comply would constitute breach of the Investments and Securities Act, 2025, and its Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism rules, the commission said.

Violations could lead to penalties including fines, suspension of operations or revocation of registration, it said.

The SEC also reminded operators of the capital market of their obligation to report all unusual or suspicious transactions to the NFIU immediately.

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