By Atoyebi Nike
President Bola Tinubu and French President Emmanuel Macron held a telephone discussion on Sunday focusing on Nigeria’s worsening security situation and measures to protect vulnerable communities. The talks came as Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, hosted a visiting United States delegation led by Ambassador Richard Mills and senior congressional members.
Macron assured Tinubu of France’s solidarity amid escalating terrorist threats, pledging intensified support for Nigerian authorities and affected populations. “We call on all our partners to step up their engagement. No one can remain a spectator,” Macron wrote on X.
The meetings coincided with rising attacks on schools, farming communities, and religious centres across northern Nigeria, prompting the federal government to declare a nationwide state of emergency on security on November 26. Security agencies have since been instructed to expand personnel deployment and prioritize protection of schools, farms, and places of worship.
The US delegation’s visit followed prior consultations in Washington and aimed to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation, regional stability, and the strategic partnership between Nigeria and the United States. NSA Ribadu confirmed discussions with lawmakers focused on coordinated strategies for combating terrorism and communal violence, while lawmakers described the engagements as “very productive.”
