Nigeria–U.S. Tensions Deepen as Security Analyst Warns of Policy Gaps in Counterterrorism Strategy
Protestors in Nigeria during end SARS in 2022- Photo credit Unsplash
Abuja, Nigeria —Nigeria’s efforts to combat terrorism face a credibility test following the United States’ decision to designate the country as one of “particular concern” for religious and human rights violations.
Security analyst Dr. Kabir Adamu, CEO of Beacon Consulting Ltd, says the move undermines President Bola Tinubu’s counterterrorism agenda and exposes long-standing governance failures in Nigeria’s security architecture.
“This designation by the U.S. undermines Nigeria’s counterterrorism agenda,” Dr. Adamu in an interview with CTV News Nigeria, monitored by DM Media Online. “It’s unprecedented between partners who share such deep diplomatic and defense ties.”
Dr. Adamu criticized Washington’s approach, arguing that diplomatic protocol was bypassed. “The U.S. could have formally communicated its concerns through the embassy or bilateral channels,” he explained. “Instead, this escalation doesn’t follow normal diplomatic norms.”
He noted that Nigeria and the United States maintain a Binational Commission, several defense agreements, and intelligence-sharing frameworks, making the move both surprising and diplomatically jarring.
Despite over 9,000 civilian deaths recorded between January and October 2025, Adamu acknowledged a steady decline in casualties since April, an indication that parts of Nigeria’s security response are yielding results.
“We started the year with around 1,000 deaths monthly, peaking at 1,300 in April. By October, we recorded about 640 almost a 50% drop,” he revealed.
“Clearly, the military and national security enterprise are doing something right, but 9,000 deaths in 10 months remain alarming.” Dr. Adamu cautioned against creating new security frameworks, emphasizing implementation over innovation. “We have the National Counterterrorism Strategy, the Policy on Countering Violent Extremism, and the Terrorism Prevention Act,” he said. “The problem isn’t the absence of policies, it’s that they’re not being implemented or updated.”
He urged the president to revive the National Security Council, which has met only once this year, and to seek buy-in from governors and the legislature for national security plans.
As Nigeria deepens engagement with Washington, Dr. Adamu stressed the need for institutional strengthening to ensure mutually beneficial partnerships. “If our institutions are weak, any partner will dictate to us,” he warned. “Security sector governance and reform are key not just buying equipment or training.”
He called for better intelligence estimates, improved counterespionage systems, and stricter controls to prevent leaks of classified information, adding: “You can’t build trust when confidential documents from top security meetings appear online.”
Nigeria already has a National Counterterrorism Center, he confirmed, but internal dysfunction still limits its effectiveness. “The center exists and is led by a military coordinator, which helps reduce friction,” he noted. “But unless we fix the same coordination challenges affecting other agencies, it will remain a work in progress.”
Dr. Adamu’s assessment captures Nigeria’s paradox: a robust legal and institutional framework, yet weak execution and poor coordination. “All of what I’ve said can be summed up in two things,” he concluded.
“We need security sector governance and security sector reform. Without those, even our best policies will stay on paper.”
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