VP SHETTIMA TO CHAIR NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL CONFERENCE TO DRIVE INCLUSIVE GROWTH
February 8, 2026
February 9, 2026 on Latest News, Press Releases, Villa Updates
President Bola Tinubu on Sunday in Abuja met with a high-level delegation from the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), led by its Commander, General Dagvin Anderson.
The meeting, held at the State House, was attended by senior officials of Nigeria’s military, security and intelligence agencies.
President Tinubu, accompanied by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and the service chiefs, received General Anderson, members of his delegation, and the Chargé d’Affaires of the United States Embassy in Nigeria, Mr. Keith Heffern.
Members of the U.S. delegation included the Senior Foreign Policy Adviser, AFRICOM, Ambassador Peter Vrooman. Chargé d’Affaires, the Commander of AFRICOM and Command Sergeant Major (CSM) Garric M. Banfield, who is the Command Senior Enlisted Leader of AFRICOM.
On the Nigerian side were the NSA, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd); the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede; the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Waidi Shaibu; the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lieutenant-General Emmanuel Uandiandeye; the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Mohammed Mohammed; and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Tosin Ajayi.

From left Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed, Director General, Department of State Services, Tosin Ajayi, Command Sergeant Major (CSM), Garric M. Banfield, Command Senior Enlisted Leader, United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), Senior Foreign Policy Adviser, AFRICOM, Ambassador Peter Vrooman, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S Embassy in Nigeria, Keith Heffern, Commander AFRICOM, General Dagvin Anderson, President Bola Tinubu, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (Rtd), Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen Waidi Shaibu, Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lt.-Gen Emmanuel Uandiandeye, when the AFRICOM delegation paid a visit to President Tinubu on Sunday, 8 February 2026, in Abuja.

From left: Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S Embassy in Nigeria, Keith Heffern, Commander AFRICOM, General Dagvin Anderson, President Bola Tinubu, Senior Foreign Policy Adviser, AFRICOM, Amb. Peter Vrooman and Command Sergeant Major (CSM) Garric Banfield, Command Senior Enlisted Leader, United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) when the AFRICOM delegation paid a visit to President Tinubu on Sunday, 8 February 2026, in Abuja.
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