In a move that signals a renewed commitment by the current administration to leverage international partnerships in the ongoing fight against insecurity in Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has approved the formation of the Nigerian delegation for the US-Nigeria Joint Working Group, a strategic step aimed at strengthening collaboration to address pressing security challenges across the country.
According to a statement issued by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the decision comes following a recent high-level delegation trip to Washington, DC, led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, where key agreements on deepened bilateral cooperation were reached.
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 Joint Working Group will be led by Nuhu Ribadu, supported by senior officials from government sectors, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar, Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru, Interior Minister Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and Humanitarian Affairs Minister Bernard Doro. Key security figures such as Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, National Intelligence Agency Director-General Mohammed Mohammed, and Nigeria Police Force Inspector General Kayode Egbetokun will also participate.
Idayat Hassan of the Office of the National Security Adviser and Paul Alabi from the Nigerian Embassy in the US will serve as secretariat to the group.
