Nigeria and the United States, US, have agreed to form a Joint Working Group aimed at boosting counterterrorism efforts and strengthening security cooperation between the two countries.
The agreement follows high-level meetings in Washington, D.C., last week between senior U.S. officials and a Nigerian delegation led by Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, NSA.
The discussions included engagements with the US Congress, State Department, National Security Council, Department of War, and the White House Faith Office.
In a statement on Monday, Bayo Onanuga, the president’s special adviser on information and strategy, said the US expressed its readiness to expand security collaboration with Nigeria.
“Following these engagements, the United States Government affirmed its readiness to deepen security cooperation with Nigeria. This includes enhanced intelligence support, expedited processing of defence equipment requests, and the potential provision of excess defence articles—subject to availability—to reinforce ongoing operations against terrorists and violent extremist groups,” the statement reads.
“The United States also expressed its willingness to extend complementary support, including humanitarian assistance to affected populations in the Middle Belt and technical support to strengthen early-warning mechanisms.
“Both countries agreed to implement immediately a non-binding cooperation framework and to establish a Joint Working Group to ensure a unified and coordinated approach to the agreed areas of cooperation.
“In return, the Nigerian delegation reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening civilian protection measures.”
The statement noted that the meetings provided an opportunity for Nigeria to address misconceptions about its security situation. Onanuga said the delegation refuted allegations of genocide in Nigeria and stressed that violence affects communities across religious and ethnic lines.
He added that the delegation strongly rejected wrongful framing of the situation, saying such would only divide Nigerians and distort the realities on the ground.
The Federal Government also reaffirmed its commitment to civilian protection as cooperation with the US intensifies.
“The Federal Government restates its awareness of heightened sensitivities regarding religious freedom and security, and urges citizens to remain assured that firm, urgent, and coordinated steps are being taken to secure the nation,” the statement said.
Members of the Nigerian delegation included Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation; Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police; Olufemi Oloyede, chief of defence staff; Emmanuel Parker Undiandeye, chief of defence intelligence; Idayat Hassan, special adviser to the NSA; and Ibrahim Babani, director of foreign relations at the office of the NSA.
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