President Bola Tinubu has approved the constitution of the Nigerian side of the US-Nigeria Joint Working Group (JWG), a key step toward strengthening bilateral cooperation on security and addressing Nigeria’s growing security challenges.
The group’s formation follows agreements reached during a recent high-level visit to Washington, DC, led by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
According to a statement released on Thursday, Ribadu will lead the Nigerian delegation and will be supported by a multi-stakeholder team drawn from strategic government institutions.
Members of the Joint Working Group include:
- Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar
- Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru
- Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo
- Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Bernard Doro
- Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede
- Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed
- Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun
The statement added that Ms. Idayat Hassan of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and Paul Alabi of the Nigerian Embassy in the United States will serve as the secretariat of the group.
“President Tinubu urged members of the JWG to work assiduously with their US counterparts to ensure the smooth operationalisation of all agreements across sectors,” said Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
Nigeria’s security situation has continued to attract global attention, especially after former US President Donald Trump claimed there was genocide against Christians in Nigeria and threatened military intervention. The Federal Government dismissed the claims, insisting it is taking concrete steps to address insecurity.
President Tinubu has repeatedly stated that protecting Nigerians remains a top priority of his administration, affirming that the country remains committed to religious freedom and tolerance.
On November 21, the US House Subcommittee on Africa held a review session on Nigeria’s redesignation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), during which witnesses presented differing views on the killings and rising insecurity in the country.
