Nigeria, US deepen security talks over religious freedom concerns

By Johnson Arua

Nigeria and the United States have commenced fresh high-level talks in Washington on security cooperation and religious freedom amid renewed concerns over the protection of vulnerable communities in Nigeria.

The talks are being held under the Nigeria-US Joint Working Group established after the administration of US President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged religious freedom concerns.

National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, is leading the Nigerian delegation, while US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker, heads the American team.

Discussions at the meeting are centred on counterterrorism efforts, progress made in bilateral security cooperation and measures required to strengthen collaboration between Abuja and Washington.

A separate bilateral defence meeting is scheduled to hold on Thursday as both countries seek to deepen their strategic security partnership.

The Joint Working Group held its inaugural meeting in Abuja in January, where Nigeria and the US agreed to expand cooperation against terrorism, protect vulnerable populations and strengthen mechanisms for safeguarding religious freedom.

Nigeria’s delegation includes Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu; Foreign Affairs Minister, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Defence Minister, Christopher Musa; Finance Minister, Taiwo Oyedele; Interior Minister, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; and Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi.

Others are Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye; Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede; and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Jimoh Ibrahim.

The Washington meeting is the latest in a series of high-level engagements between the two countries aimed at strengthening security cooperation and addressing US concerns over religious freedom and the safety of vulnerable communities in Nigeria.