National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, will lead Nigeria’s delegation to the newly created US–Nigeria Joint Working Group, a strategic security mechanism approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to deepen bilateral cooperation with the United States on intelligence, counter-terrorism, and humanitarian coordination.
The President’s approval comes on the heels of last week’s high-level engagements in Washington, DC, where Ribadu spearheaded discussions with senior US officials on enhancing Nigeria’s capability to confront terrorism, banditry, and other transnational threats.
The establishment of the Joint Working Group was one of the major outcomes of those talks.
According to a statement on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the working group will serve as a unified platform for rapid coordination between both countries on security and defence matters.
Ribadu will lead a multi-agency Nigerian team drawn from key national security and governance institutions. Members include the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar; Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar; Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; and Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Bernard M. Doro.
Also on the team are the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede; Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Mohammed Mohammed; and Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
The President further listed Ms Idayat Hassan of the Office of the National Security Adviser and Mr Paul Alabi of the Nigerian Embassy in Washington as members of the secretariat charged with coordinating the working group’s activities.
He urged the delegation to “work assiduously” with their American counterparts to fast-track the implementation of all agreements reached during the Washington meetings and to broaden cooperation across defence, intelligence, and humanitarian sectors.
The Joint Working Group is expected to accelerate intelligence sharing, operational support, counter-terrorism coordination, humanitarian response, and other bilateral commitments aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s national security architecture.
