SECRETARY of State Antony Blinken said the United States is determined to remain a strong security partner for Nigeria, whose military is backed by the U.S., Britain and other allies in a long war against Islamist insurgents. Blinken also discussed challenges to democracy and security in the region during his meeting on Tuesday with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu in a visit that comes after last year's coup in neighbouring Niger, one of a series of coups or attempted power grabs over the past few years in West and Central Africa. "The United States is determined to be and remain a…