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Second Session of the U.S.-Nigeria Joint Working Group to Address Nigeria’s Country of Particular Concern Designation

Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker hosted the second Joint Working Group (JWG) with a Nigerian delegation led by Nigerian National Security Advisor Mallam Nuhu Ribadu in Washington on August 12, 2026.

The engagement builds on progress made since the first session held in Abuja, Nigeria, on January 22, 2026.

Discussions centered on three priority areas: protecting Christian communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, holding perpetrators of violence accountable by strengthening judicial and security institutions, and military-to-military cooperation.

Under Secretary Hooker and the Nigerian delegation reviewed progress on internally displaced persons’ (IDP) resettlement to their ancestral homes, counterterrorism prosecutions, and combatting the financing of terrorism.

The JWG identified continuing challenges, including reports of civilian fatalities and gaps in humanitarian expenditure transparency.  Discussions on military-to-military cooperation continue today at the Pentagon.

The United States noted Nigeria’s reported efforts to date, including the prosecution of hundreds of Boko Haram and Islamic State-West Africa (ISIS-WA) suspects, expansion of judicial capacity, and recruitment and training of 50,000 additional police officers.  Both sides acknowledged that more work lies ahead, particularly with supporting IDPs.

The two sides also discussed continued cooperation on countering terrorism financing, biometric information sharing to support accountability measures, and law enforcement capacity building through the Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and Bureau of Counterterrorism (CT).

Under Secretary Hooker separately met with NSA Ribadu to further advance bilateral priorities and reaffirm the United States’ commitment to working with Nigeria to protect Christian communities and to deepen joint security cooperation.

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Fire has gutted one of the hostels at St Louis College, Jos, Plateau State, destroying furniture, mattresses and other valuables.

The fire reportedly broke out at the school, located after Standard Junction, Jos, at about 6pm on Thursday.

The incident occurred while the students were on holiday, averting possible casualties.

An eyewitness, Taiwo Olayinka, who spoke to our correspondent, said several properties were destroyed in the affected hostel.

He said, “An unfortunate fire gutted one of the hostels in the school. Thankfully, students are on holiday, but furniture, mattresses and other valuables are being consumed by the inferno.”

The cause of the fire was not immediately known as of the time of filing this report.

Olayinka, however, said security operatives, including men of the fire service, had been deployed to the school to put out the fire.

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An All Progressives Congress (APC) women leader has been seen allegedly distributing packets of salt and ₦1000 cash to residents in Osun State, two days before the state’s governorship election.

The distribution was captured in a video that surfaced online on Thursday. The footage shows the woman handing packets of salt and ₦1000 notes to people gathered outdoors as political parties make their final push before the August 15 poll.

The timing of the distribution has raised concerns about possible voter inducement, coming just two days before the election. However, the footage alone does not establish that the cash and salt were distributed in exchange for votes or that the woman was acting on behalf of the party for that purpose.

Vote-buying and other forms of voter inducement are prohibited under Nigeria’s electoral laws, while election authorities have repeatedly warned political parties, candidates and their supporters against actions capable of compromising the credibility of the poll.

The Osun governorship election is scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026. APC candidate Bola Munirudeen Oyebamiji and incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke are among the leading contenders in the election, alongside candidates of other political parties.

The video comes as political parties conclude their campaigns ahead of Saturday’s poll, with concerns over vote-buying and other forms of inducement remaining part of the wider debate around the election.

With campaigns now entering their final hours, attention is shifting to election-day preparations and the conduct of voters, candidates, political parties and security agencies during Saturday’s poll.