President Bola Tinubu has officially approved the formation of Nigeria’s team for the United States–Nigeria Joint Working Group, aimed at boosting collaboration between the two countries in tackling security challenges. The decision follows a high-level Nigerian delegation’s visit to Washington DC, led by National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Ribadu will head the multi-agency team, which includes senior officials from key security and foreign policy institutions. According to a statement signed by the President’s aide, Bayo Onanuga, the group includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador 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, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed; and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun.
“Ms. Idayat Hassan of the Office of the National Security Adviser and Mr. Paul Alabi of the Embassy of Nigeria in the United States will serve as the secretariat,” the statement added.
Okay News reports that President Tinubu has urged the team to collaborate closely with their US counterparts to ensure the effective execution of all security agreements reached during the Washington visit. The US–Nigeria Joint Working Group is expected to drive bilateral efforts in counter-terrorism, defense cooperation, and regional stability.
The urgency of this partnership has increased following recent statements from the United States leadership. US President Donald Trump designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” due to alleged religious-freedom violations and warned of possible military action if attacks on Christians continue. This has increased pressure on the Nigerian government to intensify its security responses.
