President Bola Tinubu on Thursday approved the constitution of the Nigerian side of the US-Nigeria Joint Working Group as part of steps to deepen collaboration in tackling security challenges in the country.
According to a statement issued by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, 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.
Ribadu is to 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 Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar; Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar; Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Humanitarian Affairs, Dr 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 the Nigeria Police Force, Mr Kayode Egbetokun.
Ms Idayat Hassan of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and Mr 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.
Deji Elumoye.
