Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja, Nigeria — The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and senior officials from the United States Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), Washington, have engaged in high-level discussions aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation on policing, security and institutional capacity building. The courtesy visit by the INL delegation to the Force Headquarters in Abuja reflects sustained collaboration between Nigeria and the United States on internal security development and counter-crime strategies.
On January 24, 2026, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD., NPM, welcomed Ms. Maggie Nardi, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, along with other senior U.S. representatives, for a strategic review of ongoing areas of cooperation. The delegation also included Mr. Jacob Wright, Senior Advisor to INL, and Mr. Grane Douglas, Acting Director of INL Abuja, underlining the depth of the partnership at both strategic and operational levels.
The meeting centred on evaluating current collaborative programmes and exploring future avenues to reinforce institutional engagement in areas such as specialised training, tactical enhancements and operational support. Ms. Nardi reaffirmed the U.S. INL’s commitment to bolstering the capacity of the Nigeria Police Force through expanded training initiatives and the provision of modern operational equipment, a move aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of policing and internal security operations nationwide.
Highlighting the importance of sustained cooperation, Ms. Nardi emphasised that long-term engagement would be critical to institutionalising best practices and improving operational performance across the Nigerian policing architecture. She stressed that strengthening the NPF’s capacity to respond to emerging security challenges would help ensure greater stability and safety for citizens.
In his remarks, IGP Egbetokun expressed appreciation for the continued support of the U.S. INL and noted the positive impact of collaborative training on the operational effectiveness of specialised units, particularly the Special Intervention Squad (SIS). He acknowledged the improvements in discipline and professionalism displayed by SIS officers in recent operations, attributing much of this progress to targeted training and capacity-building interventions backed by the INL.
The Inspector-General further reiterated the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to reinforcing its partnership with the INL and other international partners. He underlined that adopting global best practices in policing was essential to advancing the NPF’s mission of improving service delivery and safeguarding lives and property across the country.
The security partnership between Nigeria and the United States has expanded in recent months, with parallel engagements under the U.S.–Nigeria Joint Working Group on Security Cooperation reaffirming mutual interests in addressing insurgency, banditry and other complex criminal threats. This broader collaboration includes high-level dialogues involving Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, service chiefs, intelligence leaders and U.S. counterparts, focusing on intelligence sharing, counter-terrorism, and community protection mechanisms.
Nigeria’s federal government has publicly acknowledged the benefits of its security cooperation with the U.S., noting that joint efforts have strengthened counter-terrorism operations and enhanced capacity in key regions affected by insurgent and criminal activity. Government officials have emphasised that such cooperation respects Nigeria’s sovereignty while fostering accountability, community safety and strategic coordination across security agencies.
Experts observing the evolving partnership say its significance lies in both tactical and institutional support. Training programmes, modern equipment transfers and collaborative frameworks contribute to improving Nigeria’s capacity to counter organised crime, drug trafficking and security threats beyond conventional military responses. These efforts are viewed as part of a holistic strategy to address the root causes of instability, which include weak law enforcement capacity, limited community outreach, and emerging criminal modalities that transcend national borders.
Nigeria’s engagement with U.S. INL also aligns with broader international development goals aimed at strengthening rule of law, judicial integrity and public safety. For Nigerian police leadership, integrating international best practices into national security frameworks remains a priority, particularly as the force continues to confront multifaceted security challenges across urban and rural communities.
Under IGP Egbetokun’s leadership, the Nigeria Police Force has pursued reform strategies that emphasise professionalism, community policing and strategic partnerships, both domestically and internationally. In addition to collaborative training with foreign partners, the NPF has engaged in capacity building on digital crime, financial fraud and cyber investigations to reflect the changing nature of criminal activity and enhance its investigative reach.
Despite the renewed focus on partnerships and capacity enhancement, security analysts stress that sustainable progress will require continued investment in institutional capacity, accountability mechanisms and broader social interventions that address the socioeconomic drivers of crime. Strengthening the NPF’s operational capabilities through external partnerships, they argue, should complement national efforts to improve governance, economic resilience and community engagement.
As Nigeria and its international partners pursue deeper cooperation, many stakeholders see this latest engagement with the U.S. INL as a reaffirmation of shared goals: a safer Nigeria, a more capable security architecture, and an enduring bilateral relationship anchored in mutual interest and pragmatic response to complex security challenges.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments