The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, on Monday, held a high-level meeting with a delegation from the United States government led by Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Frank Garcia.

The meeting was held in Abuja at the NSA’s office, Naija News reports.

Garcia’s visit to Abuja is his first to Nigeria since he was sworn into office on June 1, 2026, and forms part of a wider tour of West Africa that will also take him to Côte d’Ivoire and Mali between July 11 and 18.

Confirming the meeting, Ribadu said their discussions strengthened the strong and enduring Nigeria-US partnership and assessed progress under the Joint Working Group.

They also reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to closer dialogue and cooperation on mutual security priorities.

“In consolidating the gains of our partnership with the United States, I received a high-level delegation led by the new Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Frank Garcia, on his first official visit to Nigeria since assuming office.

“My meeting with them strengthened the strong and enduring Nigeria–US partnership and assessed progress under the Joint Working Group, restating our shared commitment to deeper dialogue, cooperation and mutual security priorities,” Ribadu wrote on 𝕏.

Meanwhile, the NSA recently disclosed that porous borders are a major factor fueling terrorism, arms trafficking, smuggling, human trafficking and irregular migra­tion in Nigeria.

Ribadu made the disclosure in Abuja at the opening of the 15th National Security Sem­inar.

The NSA was represented by the Director of Policy and Strategy at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Amb. Yazid Gbemu­du, at the seminar with the theme, ‘Strengthening Nigeria’s Bor­der Security Architecture for National Stability’.

He asserted that Nigeria’s ter­ritorial integrity and national stability remained closely linked to the effectiveness of its border security architecture.

According to him, while Nigeria’s extensive land and maritime borders provide op­portunities for trade, regional integration and socio-economic development, they also expose the country to a range of trans­national security threats.

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The Federal Government has announced it has concluded arrangements for the final evacuation of stranded Nigerians from South Africa, with 315 returnees expected to arrive in Lagos on Wednesday on an Air Peace flight.

It was reports that the government had earlier conducted four evacuation flights, bringing home hundreds of Nigerians as part of efforts to ensure the safety and welfare of its citizens abroad.

The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, in a statement signed and issued on Tuesday, disclosed that the final evacuation flight is scheduled to depart Johannesburg at 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, and is expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at about 6:30 a.m.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting Nigerians wherever they may be and expressed appreciation to all stakeholders involved in the evacuation exercise.

The Air Peace-operated flight marks the conclusion of the Federal Government’s evacuation of Nigerians who indicated interest in returning home following the recent xenophobic attacks and security concerns in parts of South Africa.

Recall that the sixth batch of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, last Friday night, bringing the total number of returnees to 1,174.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) disclosed this in a statement by its Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun.

According to the commission, the latest batch comprised 40 Nigerians who arrived aboard a chartered flight.

NIDCOM said the evacuation exercise involved four Air Peace flights, which conveyed 258, 266, 262 and 282 returnees respectively, while a ValueJet flight brought back 66 Nigerians.

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The principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, Mrs. Alamu Folawe, on Monday, July 13, recounted the traumatic 56-day ordeal she and other abd#cted teachers and pupils endured in captivity, saying the k!dnappers deliberately k!lled two of their colleagues to pressure the government while leaving the survivors with lasting emotional scars.

Folawe spoke during the official handover of the rescued victims to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde by the Nigerian Army.

The principal said the abductors repeatedly used fear and psychological intimidation to weaken the captives, telling them that the government had abandoned them and no longer cared about their fate.

“A relief to us is that Nigerians were praying for us. Many times, they used fear to subdue us. At one point they told us the government wasn’t interested in our case anymore because they didn’t value us. But there were times we held on to hope that we would come out alive,” she recalled. Nigerianbusiness insights

She revealed that the kidnappers executed two of her colleagues in an attempt to force the government’s hand.

“Mr. Michael was k!lled on the second day, while Deacon was k!lled on the first Sunday in June. They k!lled them purposely because they felt that would force the government to give them whatever they wanted.

It was until we got out that we discovered the whole world was on our case. We have scars already, but we believe with time we will heal,” she said

She expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, Governor Seyi Makinde, security agencies involved in the rescue operation and Nigerians whose prayers and support sustained hope throughout their captivity.

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