Dr. Betta Edu on Sunday, 8 February 2026, welcomed the 111th Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, at her residence in Abuja, where the two leaders discussed strengthening Nigeria-United States cooperation across security, humanitarian, health, and economic sectors.

Adams, a former police officer and two-term President of the New York City Council, served as New York City’s 111th Mayor from January 2022 to December 2025. The meeting marked his first international visit post-mayoralty.

According to Edu, discussions focused on Nigeria’s security challenges, government efforts to curb crime, humanitarian gaps following reductions in foreign aid, and healthcare issues, including the impact of out-of-pocket spending on the country’s poverty levels.

She highlighted Nigeria’s stabilising economy and urged Adams to leverage his international influence and networks to attract investments. Edu also called for a holistic US collaboration beyond security, emphasizing support for health, education, and other critical sectors, and appealed to the Nigerian diaspora in New York to promote a positive image of the country.

“I feel honoured to receive him, and Nigeria will greatly benefit from this strategic visit. We strongly believe he will use his global platform and network in the United States and beyond to advocate for Nigeria and mobilise support for our people,” Edu said.

In response, Adams praised the contributions of Nigerians to New York City, one of the largest Nigerian diaspora communities globally, and encouraged them to remain connected to their roots. He pledged to use his platform to attract investments, grants, and development funding to Nigeria, while supporting initiatives to reduce insecurity and poverty, improve healthcare delivery, and increase school enrollment.

Showcasing Nigerian hospitality, Dr. Edu presented Adams with locally made souvenirs, including intricately designed Adire fabric materials.