President Bola Tinubu has approved the constitution of the Nigerian side of the US-Nigeria Joint Working Group, marking a strategic step to enhance bilateral collaboration in addressing security challenges across the country.
According to a statement from the Statehouse, the composition of the Joint Working Group follows an agreement reached during a recent visit to Washington, DC, by a high-level Nigerian delegation led by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Ribadu will lead the Nigerian side of the Joint Working Group, supported by a multi-stakeholder team drawn from senior officials across relevant government ministries and security agencies.
Key members of the Nigerian team include the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar; Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar; Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr. 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 the Nigeria Police Force, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun.
Ms. Idayat Hassan from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and Mr. Paul Alabi of the Nigerian Embassy in the United States will serve as secretariat for the group.
President Tinubu called on members to “work assiduously with their US counterparts to ensure smooth operationalisation of all agreements across sectors,” highlighting the administration’s commitment to strengthening security partnerships with the United States.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, signed off the statement on behalf of the Statehouse.