The federal government has expressed its readiness to collaborate with the United States of America on Security Governance Initiative Programme for mutual benefit of both countries.

Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau stated this when he received the United States’ delegation on Security Governance Initiative, SGI, in Abuja.

The minister noted that the focus areas of SGI programme is in line with the administration’s three main focus areas of Good Governance, Transparency/Accountability and Security.

He said that the SGI involves all security agencies in the country, and not limited to agencies under the Ministry’s purview.

Dambazzau 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.

Acting Deputy Chief of Mission, US Embassy in Nigeria, Alan Tousignant, who was among the delegation explained that the SGI programme was launched in August 2014 by the Obama administration.

Tousignant said the aim of the programme was to help some African countries, including Nigeria, to identify security challenges, and to assist in managing security outfits to efficiently and effectively deliver security and justice to its citizens.

He added that the 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 needs identification, procurement and acquisition procedures and processes; and enhancing civilian security planning for the Northeast.

Tousignant noted that at the end of the deliberations, a draft copy of a joint-country action plan would be produced, which would outline the road-map for security problems and solutions.

The delegation was optimistic that a lot would be achieved from the exchange of ideas and goals on key issues concerning security, assuring that the partnership would continue after the expiration of President Obama’s administration.