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•Tuggar, Tunji-Ojo, Abubakar, Gen Oluyede, Egbetokun also on the team  

•Tasks them on all agreements across sectors

•Onaiyekan urges Tinubu to equip current security operatives for better performance 

•PDP: Niger kidnapping a sad devt

Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha, Michael Olugbode, Alex Enumah, Linus Aleke, in Abuja, Laleye Dipo in Minna and Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the constitution of the Nigerian side of the US-Nigeria joint working group as part of measures to deepen collaboration in tackling security challenges in the country.

According to a statement by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, the composition of the team was part of the agreement reached during a recent trip to Washington DC by a Nigerian delegation led by National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.

Ribadu is to lead the Nigerian side of the Joint Working Group, supported by a multi-stakeholder team comprising senior officials from relevant government establishments.

Members of the committee included Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar; Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar; Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; and Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr. Bernard M. Doro.

There was also Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede; Director-General of National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed; and Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun.

Equally on the team were Ms Idayat Hassan of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and Mr Paul Alabi of the Embassy of Nigeria in the US, who would serve as the secretariat.

Tinubu urged members of the group to work diligently with their US counterparts to ensure smooth operationalisation of all agreements across sectors.

Matawalle Denies Alleged Claim Zamfara Security Will Not Work Without Him

Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji Mohammad Matawalle, dismissed a viral social media report that he told journalists the Zamfara security initiative “wouldn’t work without him”, calling the allegation a malicious fabrication.

In a statement by his special adviser on media, Ahmad Dan Wudil, Matawalle said he never granted any interview on the matter. He said the story was crafted to tarnish his reputation and undermine federal government’s efforts to address the nation’s security crisis.

He explained that his recent criticism had been directed at the incumbent Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, whom he accused of pursuing a “poor strategy” and failing to cooperate with federal authorities on security mechanisms.

Matawalle, who served as Zamfara governor for four years before his ministerial appointment, said the governor’s refusal to involve him and other stakeholders in the state’s security planning was “condemnable”.

He also had issues with Lawal’s unilateral deployment of security operatives in Zamfara without coordinating with Abuja, describing it as a “major drawback” to the broader counter terrorism effort.

“Everything should not be politicised. This is the time all hands should be on deck to tackle the security problems,” Matawalle said, warning that the media must not be used as a tool for “political mischief and mudslinging.”

He urged outlets such as Premium Times to verify statements before publishing.