President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of the Nigerian component of the US–Nigeria Joint Working Group, a strategic initiative aimed at deepening bilateral collaboration in tackling the nation’s security challenges.
A statement issued on Thursday by the Presidential Spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, revealed that the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, will lead the Nigerian side of the Joint Working Group. He will be supported by a multi-stakeholder team comprising senior officials from key government institutions.
Members of the Joint Working Group include the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar; the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar; the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Bernard M. Doro; the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede; the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed; and the Inspector General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun.
Ms Idayat Hassan of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and Mr Paul Alabi of the Embassy of Nigeria in the United States will serve as the secretariat.
The formation of the Joint Working Group follows agreements reached during a recent high-level visit to Washington, D.C., by a Nigerian delegation led by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
President Tinubu urged members of the team to work diligently with their U.S. counterparts to ensure the seamless implementation of all agreements across relevant sectors.
It will be recalled that the Nigerian government recently announced a renewed understanding with the United States to strengthen security cooperation. The agreement provides for enhanced intelligence sharing, faster processing of defence equipment requests, and potential access to excess U.S. military hardware to reinforce operations against terrorists and violent extremist groups.
Both countries agreed to “immediately implement a non-binding cooperation framework and establish a Joint Working Group” to ensure a unified and coordinated approach to the identified areas of collaboration.
According to Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the Nigerian delegation reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening civilian protection measures.