President Bola Tinubu’s government has said the high-level Nigerian delegation and the United States officials have agreed to collaborate in ending the protracted security challenges facing the nation.
A delegation, led by the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu had last week, met with senior officials across the US Congress, the White House Faith Office, the State Department, the National Security Council, and the Department of War over the alleged Christian genocide in Nigeria.
Giving details of the meeting, President Tinubu’s media aide, Bayo Onanuga said the discussion will help strengthen security partnerships between Nigeria and the US.
Bayo noted that the outcome of the meeting has also opened new avenues for cooperation to protect Nigerian citizens.
He stated that during the engagements which took place in Washington, DC, the Nigerian delegation refuted allegations of genocide in Nigeria.
According to Bayo, the Nigerian delegation to the US insisted that violent attacks in Nigeria affect families and communities across religious and ethnic lines.
“The delegation strongly rejected wrongful framing of the situation, saying such would only divide Nigerians and distort the realities on the ground.
“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 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”.
The presidential spokesman stated that 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”, he added.
