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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An inquest into the tragic d3ath of a 27-year-old Nigerian mother-of-one in the United Kingdom has found she took her life.

Beatrice Solomon was found unresponsive at her home on Norris Road, Stanfield, Stoke-on-Trent, on Wednesday, March 4, 2026.

Beatrice’s husband – 40-year-old Damian Michael Butler, left for work at his delivery job at around 4.30pm before returning just two hours later to use the toilet. He then made the heart-breaking discovery, UK publications reported on July 12.

PC Hinchliffe told the inquest that paramedics arrived shortly afterwards but Beatrice was sadly declared d3ad at the scene at 6.21pm.

Officers ruled out any third-party involvement.

Damian told the inquest that Beatrice had been suffering with her mental health for the past 12 months due to ongoing issues with Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

Damian added he later learned she had made two previous attempts on her life.

Pathologist Dr Jones ruled she d!ed from oxygen deprivation.

Coroner Li Hammond-Naylor concluded that Beatrice d!ed as a result of su!cide.

“It is clear to me that Beatrice had researched and planned how to take her own life. I can only extend my sincere condolences to Beatrice’s family and friends,” she said.

Beatrice, a carer, arrived in Stoke-on-Trent from Nigeria in November 2023.

She leaves behind a son, as well as her siblings.

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