By Muhammad Mamman
– The Commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, paid a courtesy visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Sunday.
General Anderson led a high-level U.S. delegation, including Keith Heffern, Charge d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria; Amb. Peter Vrooman, Senior Foreign Policy Adviser at AFRICOM; and Garric M. Banfield, Command Sergeant Major and Command Senior Enlisted Leader.
President Tinubu welcomed the delegation alongside key Nigerian security officials, including National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Defence Minister Gen. Christopher Musa (Rtd), Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, Chief of Defence Intelligence Lt.-Gen. Emmanuel Uandiandeye, Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency Mohammed Mohammed, and Director-General of the Department of State Service Tosin Ajayi.
The visit underscores ongoing collaboration between Nigeria and the United States on regional security, counterterrorism, and defence partnerships in Africa. While specific details of the discussions were not disclosed, officials described the meeting as “constructive” and aimed at strengthening strategic ties.
