By Amofokhai Williams
President Bola Tinubu has approved the composition of the Nigerian contingent for the newly established US–Nigeria Joint Working Group, a mechanism designed to strengthen collaboration between both countries in addressing security challenges.
The formation of the group follows agreements reached during a recent high-level visit to Washington, DC, led by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
The NSA will head the Nigerian delegation and coordinate a multi-stakeholder team drawn from key security and governance institutions.
Members of the Joint Working Group include the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar; Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar; Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; and the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Bernard M. Doro.
Also on the team are the 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.
To support the group’s operations, Ms Idayat Hassan of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and Mr Paul Alabi of the Embassy of Nigeria in the United States will serve as the secretariat.
President Tinubu urged the team to work closely with their US counterparts to ensure the seamless implementation of all commitments across the security and governance sectors.
The President’s directive underscores his administration’s broader objective of building stronger international partnerships to bolster Nigeria’s internal security architecture.
