Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle, has emphasized the importance of increased intelligence collaboration between Nigeria and the United States to combat banditry and terrorism within Nigeria.
This is contained in a statement by
Director Information and Public Relations of the Ministry of Defence Henshaw Ogubike in Abuja.
According to the statement, during a meeting with Jennifer Zakriski, Assistant Secretary for Defence for African Affairs at the US Department of Defence, and her delegation at Ship House, the Minister highlighted potential areas for cooperation, particularly in intelligence sharing, to strengthen Nigeria’s security efforts.
Matawalle underscored the significance of leveraging US intelligence to anticipate and prevent terrorist attacks within Nigeria, drawing parallels with the US’s practice of issuing early warnings to its citizens in crisis zones.
The discussions between the two parties centered on deepening intelligence cooperation, reflecting a shared commitment to bolstering the longstanding partnership between Nigeria and the United States in defence and security matters.
The Minister expressed gratitude for the visit, emphasizing Nigeria’s eagerness to enhance collaboration with the United States for the mutual benefit of both nations.
Responding, Jennifer Zakriski reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to supporting Nigeria in addressing security challenges, emphasizing Nigeria’s pivotal role in US-Africa relations and the importance of joint efforts in tackling shared security threats.
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