President Bola Tinubu has approved the formation of Nigeria’s component of the United States-Nigeria Joint Working Group, a key initiative to enhance bilateral cooperation in addressing the country’s security challenges.
The announcement was made on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. It follows a recent visit to Washington, DC, by a Nigerian delegation led by National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, during which both nations agreed to establish the Joint Working Group to improve coordination on security matters.
NSA Ribadu will head the Nigerian side of the group, supported by a multi-stakeholder team from strategic government institutions. Members include the Minister of Foreign Affairs, 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, General Olufemi Oluyede; Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed; and Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
Idayat Hassan from the Office of the National Security Adviser and Paul Alabi from the Nigerian Embassy in the US will serve as the secretariat for the delegation.
President Tinubu urged the group to collaborate closely with their US counterparts to ensure the effective implementation of agreements reached during the Washington engagements. The Joint Working Group is expected to enhance intelligence sharing, counter-terrorism efforts, military cooperation, and other interventions aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s internal security.
