Special Adviser to President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, has described Nigeria’s enduring partnership with the United States as “treasured, warm and robust,” but calls for deeper cooperation to benefit both nations.
Speaking to Newsmax TV in Washington, DC, Dare, stressed the importance of enhancing US engagement amid evolving global and regional security challenges.
He emphasised that a revitalized American media and diplomatic presence in Nigeria would provide Washington with clearer insights into the country’s dynamic developments.
He highlighted the significance of reopening the Voice of America office in Abuja, stating, “real-time reporting from Nigeria would offer comprehensive analysis and diverse viewpoints that shape informed policy decisions in the United States.”
He praised Nigeria’s commitment as a partner under President Tinubu, who “deeply understands American institutions and values,” noting Tinubu’s education in Chicago and his experience at a top US accounting firm.
Addressing ongoing security concerns, Dare dispelled notions of a religious conflict or government persecution of Christian communities.
“As a Christian, I can say those claims misrepresent our reality,” he said. He pointed out that violence affects Nigerians of all faiths and is mainly driven by extremist groups and criminal networks, not religious motives.
Dare explained the conflict’s complexity, evolving over the past 15 years with the rise of Boko Haram factions like ISWAP and other armed groups fueled by transnational forces. He cited regional instability in the Sahel, the collapse of Libya, the flow of arms across porous borders, and ungoverned spaces exploited by terror networks as key factors driving violence in Nigeria and West Africa.
On the durability of bilateral ties, Dare remarked, “The partnership has remained strong through successive governments, including during the Trump administration.” He recalled US support during Nigeria’s ECOMOG peacekeeping missions in Liberia and Sierra Leone and noted that diplomatic relations have stayed “warm, cordial and mutually beneficial” since Nigeria’s democratic return 27 years ago.
Dare added that Nigeria’s adoption of the American presidential system strengthens the connection, along with robust trade, energy cooperation, and the contributions of Nigerian professionals in the US. He underscored thriving collaboration in trade, education, and cultural exchange between the two countries.
- Concluding, Dare said, “As global instability increases, Nigeria and the United States must reinvigorate their engagement, maintain open communication channels and sustain a relationship built on decades of shared values, cooperation and strategic interests.”