Oge Onubogu began her testimony by clarifying that while she works at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, her remarks represented her personal expertise and professional judgment. This set the stage for a candid and deeply informed analysis of Nigeria’s increasingly fragile security landscape, and the responsibilities shared by both Nigeria and the United States.
- U.S.-Nigeria relations are strained but strategically vital
She described the bilateral relationship as complicated, marked by cooperation in counterterrorism but often disrupted by political tensions. With jihadist threats expanding, she argued that both countries must use this moment to rebuild trust and deepen engagement.
- Nigeria urgently needs to appoint an Ambassador to the United States
Onubogu highlighted that the absence of a sitting ambassador weakens Nigeria’s diplomatic influence in Washington. She urged the government to immediately appoint a capable envoy who can effectively engage with U.S. policymakers, manage narratives about Nigeria, and protect the country’s strategic interests during a sensitive period in U.S.-Nigeria relations.
- Nigeria’s insecurity is rooted in identity divisions and weak governance
Nigeria’s failure to forge a shared national identity, 64 years after independence, remains a central driver of instability. Ethnicity, religion, and language still define Nigerians more strongly than citizenship, fueling a cycle of mistrust and violence.
- The crisis is far more complex than a “Christian persecution” narrative
Onubogu pushed back firmly on claims popular in some U.S. political circles that Nigeria is engaged in targeted killings of Christians. She noted that most victims of Boko Haram and bandit groups are Muslims, and that violence is typically driven by land disputes, poverty, and state breakdown, not theology.
- Security threats are multiplying across the country
From jihadist groups in the Northeast to heavily armed bandits in the Northwest and communal clashes in the Middle Belt, Nigeria is now battling multiple overlapping conflicts. These crises, she warned, are spreading geographically and increasing in complexity.
- U.S. military intervention would likely make things worse
She issued a clear warning: any unilateral U.S. military action, such as proposals floated under the Trump administration, could deepen religious tensions, endanger civilians, and inflame anti-American sentiment. Quick wins, she noted, often create long-term consequences.
- Washington must rethink its security assistance to Nigeria
Despite billions of dollars in U.S. support over the past two decades, extremist violence has worsened. She urged a shift from hardware-focused aid to security governance, intelligence sharing, accountability, and rule of law reforms that tackle the root of Nigeria’s weaknesses.
- Abuja must confront its accountability problem
Years of mass killings without consequences have emboldened armed groups and shattered public trust. Onubogu stressed that impunity, both of perpetrators and of authorities who fail to act, must end if stability is to return.
- Nigeria’s police must be rebuilt from the ground up
She described the federal police as overstretched and structurally incapable of addressing today’s security threats. Soldiers now perform routine policing, while officers are diverted to protect elites. Nigeria must accelerate reforms and recruit new personnel to restore basic law enforcement.
- Nigeria must prepare now for peaceful 2027 elections
With religion increasingly weaponized in politics, she urged Nigeria to strengthen electoral institutions, rebuild confidence in INEC, and prevent the kind of religiously charged rhetoric that inflamed tensions in 2023. The 2027 elections, she warned, could be a flashpoint if not properly managed.
