President Bola Tinubu on Thursday approved the constitution of the Nigerian side of the US-Nigeria Joint Working Group, to be led by Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser (NSA).
The group which was part of the outcome of recent engagements between the two nations, is part of steps to deepen collaboration in tackling security challenges in the country.
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Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, in a statement, said the composition of the Joint Working Group was part of the agreement reached during the recent trip to Washington, DC, by a high-level Nigerian delegation led by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
He disclosed that Ribadu will lead the Nigerian side of the Joint Working Group, supported by a multi-stakeholder team comprising senior officials from relevant government establishments.
Members of the Joint Working Group include the Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abubakar Badaru, Minister of Defence, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior.
Others are Bernard Doro, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Olufemi Olukayode, Chief of Defence Staff, Mohammed Mohammed, Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, and Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector General of the Nigeria Police Force.
The statement said Idayat Hassan of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and Paul Alabi of the Embassy of Nigeria in the US will serve as the secretariat.
President Tinubu urged members of the Joint Working Group to work assiduously with their US counterparts to ensure smooth operationalisation of all agreements across sectors.
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Recall that the group was established on the heels of declaration of Nigeria as ” country of particular concern” by President Donald Trump of the United States, following allegations of genocide against Christians in Nigeria.
Following Trump threats to invade Nigeria, President Tinubu said his administration will explore diplomatic efforts in his approach to tackling the issue.
