The Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle MON, hosted a delegation from the United States Department of Defence for African Affairs in his office at the Ministry of Defence in Abuja.
The delegation led by Assistant Secretary Mrs. Jennifer Zakriski, engaged in constructive discussions aimed at enhancing collaboration to strengthen security in Nigeria and the wider African region.
During the meeting held at the Ministry’s conference room, Mrs. Jennifer Zakriski emphasized the importance of bilateral cooperation in addressing security challenges across Africa. She expressed the United States’ commitment to working closely with Nigeria to bolster security initiatives.
In response, Honourable Minister Matawalle extended his gratitude to the delegation for their visit and affirmed his Ministry’s unwavering support for continued collaboration with the United States. Highlighting the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and the United States, the Honourable Minister underscored the significance of sustained partnership, particularly in the areas of capacity building and intelligence sharing.
The meeting witnessed the presence of key officials from the Ministry of Defence, including the Director of the Joint Service Department, Principal General Staff Officer to the Honourable Minister, Principal Staff Officer to the Honourable Minister, S.A Technical to the Honourable Minister, as well as Directors of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Press.
The Honourable Minister and Mrs. Zakriski agreed on the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing regional security challenges and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the strategic partnership between Nigeria and the United States.
The Ministry of Defence looks forward to continuing these discussions and implementing initiatives that will contribute to the enhancement of security and stability in Nigeria and the wider African region.
Ahmad Dan-wudil
Personal Assistant on Media
Office of the Honourable Minister of State for Defence
April 30, 2024
