United States Congressman Riley Moore, Monday, expressed the hope that Nigeria’s security challenges will be crushed if the resolutions reached at the end of the high-level security discussions between the United States and Nigeria are fully implemented.

The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) had, Sunday, announced hosting a US congressional delegation as part of the ongoing security consultations between both countries.

The meeting, hosted by the National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, was a follow-up to earlier talks held in Washington, DC, which  centred on mutual security interests.

In the U.S delegation were Mario Díaz-Balart, Norma Torres, Scott Franklin, Juan Ciscomani and Moore, with the American ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, also in attendance.

Speaking on the meeting outcome, Moore said more areas still needed to be covered to tame the rising menace of  terrorism and ongoing killings.

Morre, in a statement posted Monday on his X handle, wrote that the discussions centred essentially on terrorism in the North-East and the killings in the Middle Belt.

It described the issues as a specific concern for President Donald Trump and himself.

According to him, the two parties examined critical steps and actions that, in his view, could improve security if carried out fully.

“There were concrete steps and actions discussed at length, that if fully executed, I believe will enhance security across the country for all Nigerians, disrupt and destroy terrorist organisations in the northeast and stop the killing of Christians (a specific concern for @POTUS and me) – particularly in the Middle Belt of the country,” the congressman said.

On the rescue of the abducted Catholic schoolchildren in Agwara, Niger state, he said: “I want to thank the Nigerian Government and @officialABAT for rescuing the 100 innocent and precious Catholic school children.

“This is a positive demonstration of the government’s increasing response to the security situation and shows commitment to the emergency declaration laid out by President Tinubu.”

He said the U.S. concerns were receiving positive attention, citing the “established joint task force between Nigeria and the US” as an example of cooperation.

“The US sense of urgency was well received, and I believe a framework for cooperation is now within reach,” he said.

The lawmaker further acknowledged that “It is clear that there is an openness and willingness on the part of the Nigerian Government to work with the United States to tackle these critical issues.

“Now, that openness has to translate to concrete action.”

Notwithstanding, Moore said: “There is much work still to be done, but things are moving in the right direction. I look forward to the next steps with the Nigerian Government and the continued open dialogue.”

Concluding his piece, he said: “Peace be with you all. God bless the great people of Nigeria.”

…Northern govs okay N228bn

In a related development, governors of the 19 Northern states have agreed to set aside N228 billion to be used in the fight against insecurity in the zone.

Nasarawa state Governor Abdullahi Sule disclosed this during the state executive council meeting Monday in Lafia.

 He explained that the northern governors in their recent meeting in Kaduna, agreed to contribute N1billion every month per governor for 12 months to enable them use the collective fund in addressing security challenges in the zone.

“The 19 northern governors will be contributing N19bn for 12 months that is N1bn every month. We have to take this fight on our own to be able to secure our region, otherwise we will continue to talk about it and nothing will happen,” Sule said.

He said part of the monies would be used to purchase equipment to be used in fighting insecurity across the zone, “while other parts of the money will be used for the engagement and employment of youths that would be properly trained and equipped in form of vigilante to support system to work.”

“We do not have a Director General (DG) or a management of the forum that would be able to work together for the management of these funds that we are talking about. 

 “As a result of that, Chief Ezekiel Gomos, was selected and now engaged as DG and will be able to put his Executive Director together in order to manage those resources,” he said.

According to Sule, additional N1.9 billion will also be contributed separately to start the building of its secretariat in Kaduna state.

He explained further that the northern governors also agreed to contribute additional N100,000,000 for 12 months separately, for the foundation of the northern governors’ secretariat in Kaduna.

 “All the meetings of the northern governors held in Kaduna Government House, but Kaduna governor is kind enough to allocate a piece of land in a very strategic location where now we can also build our own secretariat,” Sule said.  

…Nasarawa set to launch NASACCO rice 

The governor also said the state is set to launch its branded rice  “NASACCO Rice” on  December 17.

 He said the governor of Benguela from Angola would also be part of the ceremony, pointing out that there will be 10 percent discount from the usual market price.

 ..FG urges speedy trial of terrorists

Meanwhile, the federal government as urged the judiciary to speed up actions on cases involving terrorism, human trafficking, kidnapping and related crimes.

The government said, the judiciary, as the guardian of justice and the custodian of the rule of law, “must lend its weight to national efforts to combat insecurity.”

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) gave the charge at the Court of Appeal’s commencement of its 2025/2026 Legal Year Monday in Abuja.

He said: “It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge that in recent months, the judiciary has come under public scrutiny and criticism, often marked by misrepresentations of judicial decisions in the public space.

“These criticisms, whether fair or misplaced, remind us of the delicate balance between judicial authority, public trust and perception.

“Yet, let it be said clearly: criticism of the judiciary is a testament to the central role it plays in our democracy.

“At this solemn juncture in our national life, it is also impossible to ignore the grave challenge of insecurity that confronts our country. From insurgency and terrorism to banditry, kidnapping, and violent crimes, these threats imperil not only the safety of our citizens but also the very fabric of our constitutional democracy.

“The judiciary, as the guardian of justice and the custodian of the rule of law, must lend its weight to national efforts to combat insecurity.

 “Through firm, consistent, and courageous adjudication, the courts can ensure that those who threaten peace and stability are held accountable, that impunity is dismantled, and that the sanctity of human life and property is protected.

“The judicial system’s effectiveness strengthens when terrorism cases receive swift hearings and resolutions which demonstrates that terrorism faces immediate and decisive legal action.”

“The Federal Government remains deeply committed to combating terrorism through a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic strategies. It recognises that the swift administration of justice is a vital complement to military and intelligence operations.

“Accordingly, rather than resorting to indiscriminate detention or relying solely on battlefield engagements, the government is focused on the timely prosecution of suspects implicated in mass-casualty attacks, kidnap-for-ransom networks, extremist recruitment, and terror-financing activities.

“The government is equally mindful that this can only be achieved by enhancing the capacity of the judges who would handle these cases and other cases in the docket of our courts.

“The Government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR is therefore committed to the immediate appointment of additional judges of the Federal High Court to reinforce and boost our national counter-terrorism efforts and ensure that terrorism-related cases and other cases are handled promptly and effectively,” he added.

“Let me also seize this opportunity to call on all citizens to unite in confronting the scourge of terrorism. This is a time for collective resolve—not distraction—as we work together to secure our nation.

“While political cases often command public attention and urgency, it is imperative that we also recognize the critical role of commercial litigation in shaping the destiny of our nation. In an era where economic stability and foreign investment are indispensable to national growth, the timely resolution of commercial disputes becomes a matter of public importance.

“I therefore respectfully urge this Honourable Court to accord accelerated hearing to commercial cases whose outcomes bear directly on the economy, investor confidence, and the prosperity of our people,” the AGF further added.

…Dongban –Mensem laments case backlogs

Also speaking at the event, President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, lamented the backlog of cases awaiting judicial attention, adding that “Electoral matters consume our time and energy.”

The PCA urged counsels to always encourage their clients to accept amicable settlement of cases through alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.

She said: “Although the general elections are behind us, electoral litigation remained a dominant feature of our docket. Post-election disputes from governorship and legislative contests continued to reach the court for off-season elections.

“Endless litigation drains our scarce resources. We are currently in serious debt. We therefore appeal to political actors: democracy cannot flourish if every electoral contest is dragged into the courtroom.

“The spirit of sportsmanship must prevail. We urge politicians to respect the will of the electorate, accept outcomes in good faith, and place the peace and progress of our nation above personal ambition.”