President Bola Tinubu has officially approved the composition of the team for the U.S-Nigeria security working group to tackle the nation’s pressing security challenges.
The establishment of this U.S-Nigeria working group is as a result of a high-level talks held recently in Washington, D.C., where a Nigerian delegation, led by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, met with key U.S government officials.
Shortly after the meeting, the Nigerian Presidency announced the group, explaining that the primary goal of the group is to create a unified and coordinated approach for implementing various agreements across defense, intelligence sharing, and counter-terrorism efforts.
According to a press statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday, Ribadu will lead the Nigerian team of the security working group.
Members of the working group, as contained in a statement include the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Bernard M. Doro, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Amb. 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 US will serve as the secretariat,” the statement added.
Tinubu urged the officials to work closely with their US counterparts to ensure the effective implementation of all security agreements reached during the visit.
President Tinubu stated: “I urge members of the Joint Working Group to work assiduously with their US counterparts to ensure the smooth operationalisation of all agreements across sectors. This is critical to enhancing our national security and fostering closer ties between our countries.”
The U.S-Nigeria joint security working group is expected to coordinate bilateral efforts toward counter-terrorism, defence cooperation, and regional stability.
In recent weeks, the security partnership has gained urgency following pronouncements from U.S leadership.
U.S President Donald Trump recently redesignated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged religious-freedom violations and threatened possible military action if attacks on Christians continue
Trump’s statements heightened pressure on Nigeria’s government to demonstrate a stronger response to insecurity.
However, the Nigerian government had repeatedly denied allegations of Christian persecution in Nigeria, claiming that the security situation in the country is a result of terrorism.
