Our Correspondent | Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has formally approved a multi-agency Nigerian delegation to serve on the newly formed US–Nigeria Joint Working Group, aiming to deepen cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in confronting security threats.
The move follows a recent visit to Washington DC by a high-level Nigerian delegation led by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and reflects an agreement between both countries to strengthen joint efforts in counter-terrorism, defence cooperation and regional stability.
The presidential aide, Bayo Onanuga, who announced the development, said the group will include senior officials such as the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defence, Interior and Humanitarian Affairs, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Director-General of the National Intelligence agency, and a representative from the Nigerian Embassy in the US, who will serve as secretariat.
Tinubu urged the members to “work closely with their US counterparts to ensure the effective implementation of all security agreements” reached during last week’s Washington meetings.
Why It Matters
- The partnership is designed to shore up Nigeria’s capability to counter escalating terrorist violence, banditry and other security threats, especially in conflict-prone zones. Under the new arrangement, the US has offered enhanced intelligence support, expedited processing of defence equipment requests, and possible provision of surplus defence articles to Nigerian forces.
- The renewed cooperation comes at a sensitive time. Nigeria was recently added by the US to its “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) list over alleged religious-freedom violations — a move that raised diplomatic and security stakes. The working group is expected to address security challenges without compromising international cooperation.
Tension heightened recently when President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to the Nigerian government, declaring the readiness of the United States to intervene with military action against killings in Nigeria, should the government continue failing to act swiftly.
The establishment of the Joint Working Group signals a shift from ad-hoc cooperation to a structured, institutionalised partnership — aimed at improving intelligence-sharing, early-warning systems, military support, and civilian protection across Nigeria’s most vulnerable regions.