FG Partners USA On Security

Nigeria has promised to work with the United States of America (USA) so as to tackle the various security issues affecting both countries.

This was the resolution reached between the two nations during a meeting recently in Abuja.

Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, said the Nigeria was ready to partner with America on Security Governance Initiative (SGI) programme.

He noted that the focus areas of the SGI initiative is in line with President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s three main focus areas of Good Governance, Transparency/Accountability and Security, stating that the SGI involves all security agencies in the country, and not limited to just agencies under the Ministry’s purview.

He made this known when he received the United States’ delegation on SGI.

The Minister added that a steering committee would be set up to over-see and implement the joint action plan that would be drawn up after the deliberations.

Earlier, acting Deputy Chief of Mission, US Embassy in Nigeria, Alan Tousignant said the Security Governance Initiative programme was launched in August 2014 by the Obama administration, to help some African countries, including Nigeria, identify security challenges, and assist in the best way in managing security outfits to efficiently and effectively deliver security and justice to its citizens.

He added that United States has identified three priority focus areas to help the country.  These are enhancing the Ministry of Interior’s nationwide emergency response, planning and coordination; enhancing the Ministry of Defence material need’s identification, procurement and acquisition procedures and processes; and enhancing civilian security planning for the Northeast.

The acting Deputy Chief of Mission added that at the end of the deliberations, a draft copy of a joint-country action plan that would outline the road-map for security problems and solutions would be produced.

In his remarks, leader of the delegation, Ambassador Nolan said a lot would be achieved from the exchange of ideas and goals on key issues concerning security, and that the US Government would provide technical support for Nigeria, assuring that the partnership would continue after the expiration of President Obama’s administration.