President Bola Tinubu has approved the composition of the Nigerian delegation to the newly established US–Nigeria Joint Working Group, a bilateral mechanism aimed at strengthening cooperation on security and related challenges.
The approval follows the recent visit of a high-level Nigerian delegation to Washington, D.C., led by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu. The creation of the Joint Working Group was one of the key agreements reached during meetings with senior US officials.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Ribadu will lead the Nigerian team.
The statement noted that the group draws its membership from several ministries and security institutions.
Those appointed to the Working Group include: the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar; the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar; the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Bernard M. Doro; the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede; the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Mohammed Mohammed; and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
The secretariat will be jointly coordinated by Idayat Hassan of the Office of the National Security Adviser and Paul Alabi of the Nigerian Embassy in the United States.
President Tinubu urged the members to work closely with their American counterparts to ensure the smooth takeoff and effective implementation of all agreed areas of cooperation.
