By Victoria Ojeme
ABUJA—The Federal Government and its U.S. government are set to collaborate in training, sharing of intelligence and modernisation of security services and logistics, following threats posed to the nation’s internal security by the Boko Haram Islamic sect.

Rising from a meeting between officials of both countries in Abuja, under the aegis of U.S-Nigeria Bi-National Commission, US Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Mr. William Fitzgerald, said the commitment would cover repositioning the Nigeria security services to respond appropriately to security challenges and threats in the country.

He said the technical sub-working group of the meeting will continue to meet in Abuja to explore development of a Nigerian intelligence fusion capability.

Fitzgerald said the talks will be coordinated through the US Embassy in Abuja, in conjunction with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant Nigerian agencies.

He said: “Both sides re-affirmed their commitment to enhance the operatio-nal capabilities of Nige-ria’s security services.”

by identifying avenues that would enable them to respond appropriately to internal security challenges and other threats.

“Prominent areas of collaboration may include training, intelligence sharing, modernisation of the security services, logistics and other requirements.

“Nigeria and the United States governments resolved to participate in more sustained working level engagement and cooperation on security matters, through the United States Embassy in Abuja, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant security agencies.

“Finally, both the Nigerian and US governments agreed to follow-up on these commitments and seek further collaboration to address the challenges that have been identified during the meeting.

“Both countries welcome the involvement of civil society, community-level organisations and other stakeholders in the next meeting of the Regional Security Cooperation Working Group.”

Speaking on the occasion, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Martin Uhomoibhi, said: “Government would continue to sensitise Nigerians on the need to take issue of security as responsibility of all, and not that of the security agencies alone.

“This is a national responsibility, a responsibility to be discharged by all Nigerians and indeed all residents in the territorial state of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”