The government of Nigeria has reiterated its willingness to continue to collaborate with the California National Guard in the provision of internal security for Nigerians.
In a statement by Mr Mohammed Manga, Director, Press and Public Relations of the country’s Ministry of Interior, said the Minister of Interior, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja when he received a delegation from the California National Guard.
He said the delegation was led by the Guard’s Adjutant General, Maj-Gen. David Baldwin.
The minister was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs Georgina Ehuriah.
According to Mr Aregbesola, the main focus of the President Muhammadu Buhari Administration is the provision of security for Nigerians, revitalising the economy and entrenching transparency in the affairs of government through fighting corruption.
The minister said that the government of Nigeria would accept the offer of assistance to boost the capacity of the agencies under the ministry in the areas of tactical security training as well as national disaster management.
He emphasised that transnational crimes could best be dealt with if countries realised that crime had become complex to handle and require joint efforts.
The minister, therefore, appealed to the US Government to support Nigeria in its determination to rid the country of banditry, kidnapping, insurgency, rape and other transnational crimes.
He said these would be through capacity building of personnel of the services under the ministry in the area of intelligence gathering and provision of modern equipment to fight and combat any form of crime and criminality.
Earlier, Baldwin expressed the willingness of his country to continue to support Nigeria by providing relevant professional expertise to the services to help the country check insecurity, social vices and natural disasters.
