Nigeria and the United States have intensified efforts to address Nigeria’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), with both countries reviewing progress on religious freedom, accountability for perpetrators of violence and security cooperation.

The development followed the second session of the US-Nigeria Joint Working Group held in Washington on Wednesday, co-hosted by US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker, and a Nigerian delegation led by the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

The meeting built on the outcome of the first Joint Working Group session held in Abuja on January 22, 2026, as both countries continue efforts to address concerns that led to the CPC designation.

According to a media note issued by the US Department of State, discussions focused on three priority areas: protecting Christian communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, strengthening judicial and security institutions to ensure perpetrators of violence are held accountable, and deepening military-to-military cooperation.

The two sides also reviewed progress on the resettlement of internally displaced persons to their ancestral communities, counter-terrorism prosecutions and efforts to disrupt terrorist financing.

The United States, however, highlighted continuing challenges, including reports of civilian deaths and concerns over transparency in humanitarian spending, stressing the need for further action by the Nigerian government.

Washington acknowledged Nigeria’s efforts, including the prosecution of hundreds of Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province suspects, expansion of judicial capacity and the recruitment and training of 50,000 additional police officers.

“Both sides acknowledged that more work lies ahead, particularly with supporting IDPs,” the US State Department said.

The discussions further covered cooperation on countering terrorism financing, biometric information sharing to strengthen accountability and law enforcement capacity building through the State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and Bureau of Counterterrorism.

Military cooperation was also on the agenda, with Nigerian and US officials continuing discussions at the Pentagon as both countries seek to deepen their security partnership.

Separately, Hooker met with Ribadu to advance bilateral priorities and reaffirm Washington’s commitment to working with Nigeria to protect Christian communities and strengthen joint security cooperation.

The latest engagement underscores efforts by Abuja and Washington to address concerns surrounding religious freedom and insecurity in Nigeria, particularly the protection of vulnerable communities in the Middle Belt.

Nigeria’s CPC designation remains a sensitive issue in bilateral relations, with the Federal Government seeking to demonstrate concrete progress in protecting citizens, prosecuting perpetrators of violence and strengthening the institutions responsible for security and justice.